THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY, 
I  Princeton,  N.  J. 


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Mr.  J/z/Z/s-Remairks 


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The  Letter  irom*  Arijiocles  to  Authades^ 


Touching 


A>*PKt)«^iSE  oi  fpecjal  Grace  to  the 

Unregenerate.    •  *? 


^ 


i,->*> 


.  ■■  y 


Vindication  of  Gofpel-Truth, 

AND 

Refutation  of  fome  dangerous  Errors, 

In  Relation  to  that  important  Question,  Whe- 
ther there  be  Promises  (?/*  the  Bejiowment  of 
Ipecial  Grace,  made  in  Scripture  to  the  Unre- 
GENERATE,    on  Condition  of  any  Endeavours, 
Strivings,  or  Doings  of  theirs  whatfoever  ? 

CONTAINING 

A  Reply  to  what  the  Author  of  a  late  Letter 
from  Arijiocles  to  Authades^  has  offer 'd  on 
the  Affirmative  Side  of  the  Queftion,  with  a 
View  to  invalidate  the  Arguments  advanced 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cooke  (of  Str  at  field)  in  his 
printed  Sermon  in  Favour  of  the  Nezatiyji^r;,  .-^ 

In  a  letter! p. 


To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson,  EpSf^'tal Sftjt^ 
Miflionary  at  Stratford, 


By  JedidiahIvIills,  A.  M. 

Paftor  of  a  Church  at  Ripton  in  Stratford. 

£  O  S  T  O  N  .   N.  E. 
Printed  and  Sold  by  Rogers  and  Fowle  in  Queen-ftreet.  i;47. 


Lji  tout  luui  iKA/*  "uw  ^jv  "N/y  *iA^  ""jii^  '^lD/•  "^fc*  %iv  *\&("  '\&^  "w*  '^jy  ^JV  "W  *\iv  ^lO^ 


Prefatory  Epiftle 

TO    THE 

READER. 


Sfi^^^'l^i'SS^i'S '?'  '^  ''<?  f^''^  ^^  uncommon  Thing,  that  religious  Difpulcs  fpend 
^^  ^  themfelves  on  meer  Circumftantials  ;  Things,  that  'tis  of  little  Im- 
^  I  ^  portance,  on  which  Side  of  the  ^ejlion,  the  Truth  is  found,  a;  to 
%ji>  S^  them.     And  for  that    Reafon   they  are   often  pafs'd  over    by   wife 

i^^^SI  ^^"'  "^  ""^  worthy  of  any  clofe  Attention  or  warm  Debate.- But 
the  Cafe  is  other  wife  in  the  Controverfy  now  before  us  ;  the 
SubjeSl  whereof  is  not  any  light  Matter,  or  bare  Circumflantial  of  Chriflianity : 
But 'tis  one  \of  the  great  T\\\ngs  of  the  G  of  pel ;  nothing  lefs  than  wherein  the 
Nature  and  Extent  of  the  Gofpel  it  felf,  atid  New  Covenant,  therein  revealed, 
tonfifls. —  So  that  on  what  Side  of  this  Debate,  the  Truth  lies,  there  lies  the  Co- 
venant of  Grace,  and  real  Gofpel  of  Jefus  Chrifl :  But,  en  the  other  Side  lies  an- 
other Covenant,  and  another  Gofpel,  as  to  this  Particular,  a  Covenant  of  Man's 
vzon  devifing,  a  Gofpel  fuch  as  Divine  Revelation  knows  nothing  of. 

We,  on  the  one-  Band,  readily  own,  that  the  New  Covenant  promifes  eternal 
Life  to  unfeigned  Faith,  Repentance,  Love,  iffc.  And  in  a  Word,  to  all  Obedi- 
ence thence  arifing  ;  which  in  a  Gofpel-Senfe  is  termed.  Good  Works,  Fruits  of 
Righteouinefs,  l^c.  But  then  (as  is  obferved  in  the  following  Papers)  we  are 
exprefly  taught  by  the  Holy  Ghofi,  that  none  fuch  can  be  performed  by  us,  previous 
to  our  Regeneration. 

Moreover,  it  is  readily  acknowledged  by  us,  that  the  Encouragement  given  to  all, 
to  whom  the  Gofpel  is  publifh^d,  to  labour  after  a  faving  Compliance  therewith,  is 
great ;  and  fuch  as  by  an  infinite  Wifdom  is  futed  to  the  State  of  the  fallen  Crea- 
ture :   But  Jim,  Jhort  of  a  Pjomife,  afcertaining  the  Succefs  of  his  Endeavours 


VI 


To    the    READER. 


fo  as  that,  zahcnever  firfl:  Grace,  or  faving  Converfton,  is  bejlotved,  it  Jhould  be  in 
the  Way  cf  GOD's  performing  a  Covenant  Obligation,  he  had graciou'fly  laid  him- 
felf  tinder,  on  Condition  of  any  Seekings,  Strivings,  or  Doings  of  the  Sinner. 

What  Dr.  Johnfon  and  thofe  with  him  on  the  other  Side,  advance,  is,  That  GOD 
has  gracleufiy  obliged  himfelf  in  the  Nezc  Covenant,  not  only  to  beflow  eternal  Life 
on  the  fincerely  Penitent,  or  Godly  {as  above)  but  alfo  to  beflovj  his  fpecial,  ef- 
ffdlual  Grace  on  the  Unregeneraie,  upon  Condition  of  certain  Endeavours  put  forth 

by  them,  whilft  under  the  Dominion  and  Guilt  of  Sin. So  that  the  Contreverfy 

here  plainly  refpcRs  the  Nature  and  Extent  of  the  New- Covenant. —  Tn  there- 
fore of  the  fame  Importance,  that  we  rightly  underfland  what  Truth  is  in  this 
Point-,  as  that  we  rightly  underfland  what  the  Covenant  of  Grace  is. —  Bor  is  it 
plfible  the  Sinner  fiould  know  in  what  Form  or  Manner  he  may  hope  fucce/sfully 
to  addrefs  the  Divine  Majejly  by  Prayer  for  the  Brflowment  of  Ipecial  Grace, 
but  by  rightly  under flanding  the  Nature  and  Extent  of  the  New  Covenant,  in  regard 
of  this  Particular.  —  For  if  fpscial  Grace  be  given  only  in  Purfuance  of  a  Cove- 
nant-Engagement, or  in  the  Way  of  performing  fame  Promil'e  of  GOD,  made  to 
certain  Doings  of  the  unctnverted  Sinner,  then  doubtlefs  it  muft  be  a  very  wrong 
Method  for  the  Sinner  to  feek  it  otherwife,  than  in  the  Way  of  Covenant- Right, 
or  Claim,  by  having  performed  thofe  Things  to  which  it  is  gracioufly  promifed  :  Be- 
caufe  that  would  he  to  feek  it  out  of  GOD's  covenanted  Way  of  beflowing  of  it. 
Whereas,  on  the  other  Hand,  if  it  be  given  meerly  in  the  Way  of  Sovereignty, 
and  not  at  all,  in  the  Way  of  GOD' s  performing  any  gracious  Promife  of  his,  made 
to  the  Doings  of  the  Sinner,  then  it  mufi  be  very  wrong  for  the  Sinner  to  feek  it 
as  a  Bleffing  promis'd  him,  to  which  he  has  or  may  have  a  Covenant-Right  by  any 
Doings  of  his,  in  his  unrcgenerate  State  :  Becaufe  that  would  be  to  feek  it  in  an 
An'i-icripiural  Way,  a  Way  in  which  GOD  hath  never  by  any  Engagement  oj  his 

^iven  him  the  leaf  Encouragement  to  expert  the  Befowment  of  it. Jnd  if  this 

^latter  be  theCafe,it  mujl  then  certainly  follow,  that  all  Pretence  <?/prcaching  theGo- 
fpel  ot  Chrift,  under  this  Head  of  urging  i^  inner  s  upon  fee  king  after  renewing  Grace 
as  promifed  to  their  own  Doings,  is  fo  far  from  preaching  the  true  Gofpel  of 
Jefus  Chrifl,  as  that  'tis  in  Beality  a  perveriing  the  Goipe),  or  preaching  con- 
traiy  to  it  :  And  is  fo  much  werfe  than  nothing,  in  this  Particular,  as  the  Tra- 
veller's being  direBed  to  a  wrong  Road,  is  zuorfe  than  no  DireSiion  at  all  ;  be- 
caufe, that,  ivflead  cf  forwarding  his  Journey,  at  leaf  greatly  retards  it. 

To  fpcak  plainly  here,  fuch  is  the  Tenor  of  the  New  Covenant,  according  to  the 
Doaci  {if  1  undcrfand  him  at  all)  that  the  Sinne-,  which  receives  the  iptcial 
Grsce  of  GOD  for  the  Renovation  of  his  Nature  to  Holivefs,  receives  it  as  much 
in  the  Way  of  Uoxenant  R.ight,  by  his  Works,  whiljJ  Unrcgenerate,  as  the  Ssint  in 
Chriji  Jefus  receives  the  Reward  of  future  Ghry  by  a  Covenant  Right,  arifing 
from  a  Compliance  with  Gofpel-Tcrms. 

St:ch  a  Scheme  of  the  Covenant  as  this  (I  acknowledge)  I  have  never  yet  been 
all:  to  Ice  in  the  Holy  Scriptures.  —  Jnd  therefore,  I  have  endeavoured  in  the 
folkw!t!g  Sheets  (after  what  has  been  thought  fufficient,  is  replied  to  the  Doftor's 
Letter)  to  evidence  from  various  Arguments,  that  this  Notion  of  the  New  Covenant 
is  marly  humane,  what  neither  is,  nor  can  be  divine,  according  to  the  Revelation, 
which  GOD  has  given  us  of  his  Mind  and  Will. 

It  may  perhaps  be  expeclcd,  thct  I  make  fome  Apology  for  tny  publijhing  this  Rep^ 

to  the  Dcftor's  Leitcr,  as  it  appears  now  out  ot  Seaionjj .  A^/.^^^y  P^^^'J^  ^^  ^ 
,  fcn->€ 


To  the  READER.  vil 

Jome  Tttni  finee  his  Letter  came  abroad ;  but  e/pecially  becaufe  it  hath  already  received 
a  fufficient  Anjiaer-  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dickinlon  ;  after  which  it  may  be  thought, 
vothing  further  can  be  needful. 

/  toouldfay  then,  i  ft.  That  when  I  entered  upon  this  Affair,  it  was  with  a  View, 

that  the  Dr's  Letter  was  not  like  to  receive  any  Jnfwer  at  all. And  therefore, 

though  I  knew  my  felf  one  of  the  leajl  among  my  Brethren,  and  by  no  Means  able 
to  give  the  Caufe  that  full  Advantage,  which  Truth  would  allow  :  Tet  taking  it  to 
be  the  Cdufe  of  GOD,  and  of  common  Concernment,  I  was  willing  to  do  my  Part 
in  the  Defence  of  it ;  even  as  the  leaJl  of  the  King's  SubjeSls  ought  not  to  fland 
by  and  fee  the   Interejl  of  his  Prince  fuffer,  without  attempting  what   is  in   his 

Fewer  to  defend  it.     Thus  was  I  induced  to  make  the  pre  fen  t  Attempt. 

Jind, 

2dly.  Though  the  Sufficiency  of  Mr.  Dickinfon'/  Reply  be  fully  conceeded,  as  to 
be  fure  it  is  by  me  :  Neverthelefs,  doubtlefs,  this  will  be  allowed  by  all,  that  how- 
ever well  Error  is  remonjirated  againjl,  and  Truth  vindicated  by  one,  yet  fill  the 
fame  Thing  being  done  by  another  Hand  in  a  different  Manner,  tends  to  Confirma- 
tion :  And  ufually  carries  this  Advantage  with  it,  viz.  That  fome  who  did  not  fo 
tlearly  fee  Truth  in  the  former  Reprefentation,  will  more  clearly  difcern  it  in  the' 
latter  :  And  that,  even,  when  the  latter  is  greatly  inferior  to  the  former  ;  which 
I  am  fenfible  is  the  prcfent  Cafe  ;  and  yet  I  conceive  it  poffthle,  that  even  this 
Meannefs  may  ferve  the  better  to  accomodate  what  is  faid,  to  the  Vnderfianding  and 
j^cceptation  of  the  more  Illiterate.  Upon  this  View,  together  with  other  Confidera- 
tions,  J  have  by  the  Importunity  of  Friends,  been  prevailed  en  to  eonfent,  that  the 
following  Sheets  ( which  indeed  for  fome  Time  have  lain  by)  might  be  made 
publick. 

As  to  the  Manner  cf  compojlng,  I  am  not  infenjible,  that  the  fame  Things,  zviih 
fome  Variation  of  Expreffion,  are  once  and  again  repiated  in  fever al  Places  of  this 
Performance  ;  which,  though  naturally  diftaflcful  to  the  polite  and dijcern'uig  Reader, 
will  (1  hope)  be  eafily  overlook'' d,  Jince  "'twas  out  of  a  comp.ifftonate  Defign  thereby 
of  accomodating  'ihtngs  better  to  the  zveakeffUnderfanding;  that  J  o,  if  pffible, 
every  Capacity  might  be  reacVd  with  a  Con^ction  of  Truth. 

As  to  any  Thing  of  Per  emptor  inefs  of  Expreffton  made  Ul'e  of  by  me  in  this  De- 
hate,  all  that  I  would  be  underjlood  thereby  to  Jignify,  is,  that  thufe  Things,  in  the 
Writing  of  them,  to  me  appeared  confiderably  clear  :  Not  that  I  expeB  that  this 
Manner  of  Expreffton  fhould  be  of  any  further  Infiuence  with  the  Reader,  than 
the  Evidence  of  Truth,  with   which  it  is  accompanied,  juflly  requires. 

If  any  Thing  of  undue  Warmth  or  Harfhnefs  of  Language  towards  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Jolmfon,  if  any  Thing  of  that  Kind  beyond  what  the  Nature  of  the  Caufe,  and 
the  Defence  of  Truth  required,  and  what  Chrijiianity  it  felf  will  vindicate,  f:all 
he  found  in  the  follotving  Debate,  to  have  dropt  from  my  Pen,  it  is  what  I  have 
not  upon  a  cool  RefleBion  been  able  to  obferve,  and  fhall  readily  retraSi  any  fuch 
Jnjlance,  upi,n  being  convinced  hereof. 

Though  I  pretend  not  to  an  Exemption  of  what  I  have  here  wrote,  from  much 
•f  H  'eaknefs  and  humane  Frailty  ;  yet  this,  I  trufl.  I  may  fay  with  good  Affurance, 
that  f»  far  as  1  am  confcious  to  my  ozvn  Views  and  Defigns,  I  have  done  it  for  the 
Sake  of  what  I  really  believe  will  be  found  at  laji  to  be  divine  Truth  ;    and 

with 


viii  To  the  READER. 

vjith  an  Aim  (fo  far  as  it  may  pleafe  GOD  to  blefs  ?ny  weak  Endeavdun)  to  pre- 
iienty  at  leafi  in  fome  Meafure,  an  Inundation  of  (what  are  cofnmonly  called) 
Pelagian  and  Arminian  Errors  ;  which,  to  my  bejl  Obfervation,have  a  very  threat- 
jiifig  Jfpe^  on  the  dear  Churches  of  God  in  this  Land,  and  do  fpeak  their  Danger^ 
of  being  fooner  or  later  carried  off,  at  leaf  in  feme  effential  Points^  from  the  Gof- 
pel  of  Chrift  (zvhich  our  Fathers  valued  above  all  their  worldly  Inter  eft  Sy  and  which 
they  brought  over  into  this  IJ'ilderneJs,  and  left  as  a  precious  Legacy  to  their  Pof' 
ferity)  even  to  the  receiving  another  Gofpel. 

In  fine,  Jll  I  Jhall  requeft  of  the  Reader,  is.  that  you  would  perufe  with  Can- 
dour, and  an  unhiafs''d  Ji?n  at  Truth  ;  compare  what  is  here  /aid,  with  the  public 
Confeffions  of  Faith,  efpe daily  with  the  Articles  and  Homilies  of  the  Church  of 
England,  but  above  all  with  the  Holy  Scriptures,  weighing  it  in  the  Ballance  of 
the  SanSiuary  :  And  if  in  any  Thing  you  find  it  contrary  to  GOWs  Word,  rejeh 
it  ',  but  fo  far  as  you  find  it  agreeable  to  that  f acred  Standard,  receive  and  em- 
brace it.  And  may  the  Father  of  Lights  and  of  Mercies  guide  you  into  a  faving 
Acquaintance  with  all  Truth,  fan8tfy  you  by,  and  eftablijh  your  Heart  in^  the 
Truth,  for  Jefus  Sake.    Amen. 

Thus  wijhes  and  prays 

Tour  Soul- Friend, 

and  humble  Servant ^ 


J.  Mills. 


^Letter  to  the  Rev,  Dr.  Johnson,  kb^c. 


Rev.  Sir^ 

A  VING  been  requefted  by  a  Friend,  to  make  fuch  Re- 
marks on  that  Part  of  your  laie  Performance,  intitled,  A 
Letter  from  Jriftocks  to  Jtithades,  which  relates  to  the 
Fromifes,  as  to  me  might  appear  neceflary,  for  the  Fin- 
dkation  of  feme  of  the  great  and  precious  Truths  of  the 
Gojpel ;  and  having  taken  faid  Letter,  in  that  Part,  under  Confidera- 
tion,  it  appears  to  me  mofl  unexceptionable,  in  a  Matter  of  fo  great 
Importance,  as  that  of  the  Caufe  of  GOD,  wherein  (as  you  acknow- 
ledge) f/;(?  eternal  Salvation  of  Souls  is  very  nearly  concerned^  to  appear 
open  and  free  :  and  as  I  iruft,  you  will  find  me  equally  far  from  a 
djfputatious  Temper,  as  you  profefs  your  felf  to  be,  fo  I  hope  I  fliall 
find  my  felf,  by  your  own  Example,  fecured  of  a  kind  and  candid 
Acceptance.  Therefore  I  fliall,  without  any  further  Apology,  ad-. 
drefs  my  felf  to  you,  Sir,  in  what  I  have  to  offer  on  this  Head.     ' 

Now  that  our  Readers  may  have  a  clear  Underftanding  of  this 
Matter,  I  think  it  proper  to  be  noticed,  that  what  gave  Occafion 
to  your  Letter,  was  a  Sermon  publiflied  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cooke  of 
Stratfieldy  in  Vindication  oi  the  Sovereignty  of  GOD,  in  the  Dilpenfa- 
tion  of  his  fpecial  Grace  to  loft  Sinners,  on  Exod.  xxxiii.  iS-  In  the 
Improvement  of  which  Sermon  it  is  inferred.  That  there  are  no  Pro- 
viife'!  of  fpecial  Grace  made  unto  any  Doings  of  the  Unregenerate,  by  the 
Performance  of  which  they  jnight  become  intitled  to  it.  Accordingly 
your  Letter  confifls  of  two  Parts  ,*  the  Former  on  the  Sovereignty 
of  GOD,  the  Latter  on  the  Promifes.  It  is  the  Latter,  that  I  am 
here  principally  concerned  with. 

Haying  finilhed  the  former  Head  of  Difcourfe,  you  introduce  the 
latter  in  the  following  Words.  Pag.  22.  Indeed  yowwas  then  only  un- 
dertaking to  prove,  that  there  are  no  Promifes  in  the  Scripture  to  ths  Un- 
regenerate \  [meaning  by  the  Unregenerate,  thofe  ('whether  baptized,  or 
m)  who  are  under  the  Dominion  and  Guilt  of  Sin.] 

B  Here 


lo  Special   Grace   «of  promifed 

Here,  that  I  may  proceed  with  the  greater  Clearnefs,  I  lliall 

I.  State  the  Queftion. 

Il.^Confider  wliat  is  offer'd  by  you  to  invalidate  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Cooke's  Arguments  advanced  in  his  Sermon,  in  Favour  of  the  Nega- 
tive Side  of  the  Qiiellion. 

III.  Confider  what  you  have  ofFer'd  in  Confirmation  of  the  Jffir- 
mative.         And  then, 

IV.  Suggeft  a  few  Things  to  Confideration  which  ferve,  among 
many  others,  to  perfuade  me,  that  the  Truth  lies  on  the  Negative 
Side. 

^According  to  this  Method,  I  am 

I.  To  State  the  Qiiejiioi7.-—'^ow  in  Order  to  this  it  may  be  ob- 
ferved.  That  the  Queftion  between  Mr.  Cooke  and  you  is  not,  JVhe- 
ther  there  be  any  Promifes  in  the  Bible  ?  Which  you  feem,  wildly 
enough,  to  infinuate.  {Page  21,  22,  23.)—- Nor  is  it. 

Whether  there  are  any  conditional  Promifei  made  to  Sinners  in  the  Scrip' 
tures  ? 

Neither  is  ir,  Whether  it  be  the  Sinner's  indifpenfable  Duty,  in 
the  UJe  of  appointed  Means,  earneftly  tofeek  after  the  Attainment  offpe- 
cial  Grace  ? — Nor  yer, 

Whether  God's  Beftowment  of  fpecial  Grace  upon  Sinners  be  crdinarHy 
in  the  Way  of  the  Sinners  diligent,  earneft,  and  painful  Endeavours,  in  the 
Ufe  of  appointed  Means  ?  Nor, 

Whether  the  Encouragement  Sinner's  have,  in  the  Gofpel,  to  hope  that 
Succefs  may  attend  their  thus  feeking,  be  very  great  and  precious  '? 
Nor  yer, 

Whether  the  Sinner's  Encouragement  to  hops  for  the  Succefs  of  his  En- 
deavours^  rifss  in  Proportion  to  his  Diligence  and  Painfulnefs  in  the  Ufe 
of  appointed  Means  ?— None  of  all  thefe  properly  belong  to  the  Con- 
troverfy  in  Hand. 

You  do  indeed,  Sir,  charge  Mr.  CQolie,\ri  feme  o'f  his  Expreffions, 
with  denying  there  are  any  Promifes  at  all  in  the  Scripture,  Pag. 
22.,  But  yet  at  the  fame  Time  you  are  oblig'd  to  confefs,.  That  he 
iKias  only  undertaking  to  prove  there  'were  no  Promifes,  in  the  Scripture, 
to  the  Unregenerate.  So  that  it  is  evident,  vou  did  not  really  un- 
derftand  him  to  mean,  what  you  infinuate  his  Words  fpeak. 

But  to  come  diredlly  to  the  Cafe.— - 

The  Quefiion  properly  now  before  us  is,  Whether  there  be  Promifes- 
of  the  BTftcwment  of  fpecial  Grace,  made  in  the  Scripture  to  unregenerate- 
Sinners,  on  Condition  of  any  Endeavours-,  Strivings,  or  Doings  of  theirs. 
nsohatfoevcr  ?  or,  which  amounts  tQ  much  the  fame. 


to  any  Endeavours  of  the  Unregenerate.  h 

Whether  God  bejiows  fpecial  Grace  on  the  Unregenerate^  in  the  Way 

of  performing  a  Covenant- Promife,  made  to  any  Doings  of  theirs  whatfo- 

ever  ;  allozving  that  Prmife,  both  as  to  the  Matter  and  Being  of  it,  to 

be  of  tneer  Grace  ? 

The  Qiieflion  being  thus  fairly  dated,  the  Bufinefs  is  brought  into 
a  narrosv  Compafs  ;  and  had  you  proved  either  of  thefe,  both  had 
readily  been  granted  :  But  Nothing  of  this  Nature  hath  hitherto 
been  found  in  your  Letter.  You  do  indeed,  once  and  again,  infift 
upon  it,  That  in  the  final  Retributions  to  be  awarded  to  Men  in  the  Life 
to  come,  God  adts  as  a  righteous  Judge  of  the  Behaviour  of  his  ^  Crea- 
tures, and  revoards  or  punifhes  according  to  Stipulation  ;  and  that  in  this 
grand  J ff air  ahfdlute  Sovereignty  has  no  Place.  Pag.  6,  20.— And  who 
of  us  ever  entertained  one  fmgle  Thought  to  the  contrary  ?  What 
therefore,  Sir,  you  would  be  at,  in  infirting  fo  much  on  this  Point, 
I  am  unable  to  conceive  ;  unlefs  you  would  hereby  infinuate  to  the 
World,  that  the  Rev.  Author  of  that  Sermon,  referr'd  to  in  your 
Letter,  is  of  a  contrary  Mind,  and  if  fo,  you  had  doae  well  to  pro- 
duce your  Evidence.---  Or, 

Can  it  once  be  imagined,  that  becaufe  God  adls  as  a  Judge  in 
the  final  Retributions  to  be  awarded  to  Men,  at  the  Day  of  Judg- 
ment, therefore  he  a6ls  as  a  Judge  alfo  in  the  Beftowment  of 
efFeftual  Grace  here  in  this  World,  while  in  a  State  of  Probation  ? 
Where  is  the  Connection  between  thefe  Things?  Efpecially,  fince 
you  concede.  That  God  is  entirely  fovereign  and  arbitrary  as  a  BenefaSior 
in  the  Dijlribution  of  his  Talents  and  Favours,  both  fpiritual and  temporal, 
as  proper  Means  of  Trial  and  Probation  in  this  World,  i.  e.  (fay  you) 
the  various  Abilities,  Capacities,  Priviledges  and  Advantages  he  bejiows 
on  Mankind  :  He  is  intirely  at  Liberty  (meaning  as  to  thefe  Things) 
to  do  what  he  will  with  his  own.  Pag.  6.—  Now  is  not  fpecial  Grace, 
beftowed  on  Men  in  this  World,  a  Favour,  a  Priviledge,  and  an  Ad- 
vantage to  thofe  on  whom  it  is  beftowed  ?  And  is  it  not  a  preci- 
ous Talent,  given  for  Improvement,  as  a  proper  Means  of  Trial  and 
Probation  here  ?  Efpecially  fince,  according  to  your  own  Notion 
of  Things,  it  may  be,  and  oftentimes  is  lojl  for  ivant  of  Improvement, 
and  it's  Avail  to  the  eternal  Salvation  of  any  one,  is  intirely  owing  to  a 
due  Improvement.  —-So  that  I  fee  nor,  but  that  according  to  y.our 
own  Account,  taken  in  your  own  Words,  the  great  God  is  Lord 
of  his  own,  withRefpe6l  as  well  to  theBeftowment  of  fpecial  Grace, 
as  other  fpnutual  Priviledges  and  Talents  difpenfed  to  Men  under 
the  Gofpel.-— 

If  you  fay.  Nay,  but  God  beftows  fpecial  Grace,   not  as  a  Bene- 
fatlor,  but  as  a  Righteous  Judge  of  the  Behaviour  of  his  Creatures  , 

I 


:j2  Special    Grace  «oJ  promifed 

I  anlVer,  This  is  the  Thing  you  fliould  have  proved  ;  and  had  you 
done  thiSy  inftead  of  explaining  your  JVay  of  thinking  fo  largely,  you  had 
dorie  fomething  to  the  Purpofe  :  but  fo  long  as  this  is  not  done, 
you  have  really  done  juft  Nothing.  For  it  is  not  Acquaintance 
with  your  Way  of  thinking,  which  we  want;  but  Evidence,  that 
your  Way  of  thinking  is  grounded  upon  the  tVord  of  God. 

Moreover,  it  appears  to  me,  you  have  abundantly  conceded,  that 
God  adts  as  a  Benefador  in  the  Beftowment  of  fpecial  Grace,  when 
in  Pag.  8.  you  grant  that  Every  Thing  beyond  what  is  ju/i  fitfficient  to 
render  Being  de/irable,  even  to  a  perfed;  Creature  bow  obedient  foever,  is 
Matter  of  meer  fovereign  Goodnefs,  in  which  God  may  go  into  what  Va- 
riety he  pleafes  :  Much  more  (fay  you)  tnuji  the  whole  Syjtem  of  the  Go- 
fpel  to  fallen  Man  be  Matter  of  meer  fovereign  free  Grace. —  IS^ow  if 
the  whole  Syftem  of  the  Gofpel  beftow'd  on  fallen  Man,  in  this  State 
of  Probation,  be,  in  an  eminent  Degree,  Matter  of  meer  fovereign 
free  Gr^f^,  becaufe  it  goes  far  beyond  what  is  jufl  fufficient  to  render 
Being  delirable.  Why  is  not  the  Beflowment  of  Jpecial  Grace  on 
fome  of  the  fallen  Race,  in  this  State  of  Probation,  at  leaft  in  ane- 
qual  Degree,  Matter  of  meer  fovereign  free  Gift  ?  Is  not  the  Be- 
ftowment  of  fpecial  Grace  on  fome  of  the  fallen  Race,  at  leaft  as 
much  beyond  what  is  juft  fufficient  to  render  Being  defirable,  as  the 
Syftem  of  the  Gofpel  ,*  fmce  the  former  is  the  End,  and  Defign  of 
the  latter  ?"■-  Again, 

You  acknowledge,  that  common  Grace  is  given  of  God,  as  a  Bene- 
fa&or  ;  your  Words  are,  ahfolutely  given  in  Chrijl  to  all.  Page  25.  By 
which  Tprefume  you  intend.  Given  in  a  Way  of  Sovereignty,  by  an 
abfolute  Proprietor.  And  if.fo,  then  I  ask.  Since  God  beftpws  common 
Grace  as  a  fovereign  Benefactor,  why  not  fpecial  Grace  too  ?  Seeing 
according  to  ^ou, fpecial  d.nd  cwwwiow  Grace  differ  in  Degree  only,  not 
in  Kind  ;  fo  that  all  that  is  ueceftary  in  Order  ta  render  common 
Grace,  where  it  is  beftowed  on  any,  fpecial,  is  only  the  Addition  of 
fome  further  Degrees  of  the  fame  Kind.  And  fmce  you  grant,  that 
God  beftows  fome  Degrees  of  common  Grace,  as  a  BenefaSior,  in  the 
Way  of  Sovereignty,  How  does  it  appear,  that  God  never  adds  fuch 
further  Degrees  of  the  fame  Kind,  as  are  neceflary  to  render  it  fpe- 
tial,  in  the  fame  Way  of  Sovereignty  ?  Efpecially  fince  you  grant, 
as  above,  that  What  is  beyond  what  is  jufl  fufficient  to  render  Being  de- 
firable, — -  God  may  go  into  what  Variety  he  pleafes.  i.  e.  There  is  no 
Objeftion  juftly  lying  againft  it  (according  to  you)  if  God  pleafes 
to  add  thofe  further  Degrees  of  the  fame  Kind,  that  are  necelFary  to 
render  common  Grace,  where  it  is  beftowed,  fpecial  •     c 

Bwtftill  more  exprefs,  if  it  be  poffible,  is  what  you  fay  m  Page 


to  any  Endeavours  of  the  Unregenerate.  13 

5,  6.  where  you  tell  us  ;  In  Order  to  think  clearly  on  this  SubjeB^  — 
it  Jeems,  to  you,  very  necejfary  to  dijlinguifh  between  the  Conjideration  of 
Cod  as  a  Benefa^or,  and  as  a  Judge  :  And  between  the  Beftowment  of 
various  Talents  and  Favours  upon  Men  in  this  Life,  which  is  a  State  of 
Probation^  and  the  Retributions  to  be  awarded  in  the  Life  to  come,  accord- 
ing to  what  Ufe  they  /JmU  have  made  of  them  here.  In  the  one  (i.  e. 
in  the  Beftowmenc  of  various  Talents  and  Favours  upon  Men  in  this 
Life,  you  fay)  God  a6ts  as  a  fovereign  Lord  of  his  Favours  :  In  the 
other,  as  a  righteous  Judge.  Now  is  it  not  certain  that  the  Beftow- 
ment  of  fpecial  Grace  belongs  to  the  State  of  Probation  in  this  Life, 
and  not  to  the  State  of  Retribution  in  the  Life  to  come  ?  And  is  it 
not  certain,  thatthofe  endowed  with  this  precious  Talent  here,  will 
receive  a  Reward  in  the  Life  to  come,  according  to  their  Improve- 
ment here  ?  And  if  fo,  then.  Is  it  not  certain,  according  to  your 
own  Diftinftion,  that  God  a6ts  as  a  Benefactor,  and  not  as  a  Judge  in 
the  Beftowment  of  it  ?  So  that,  by  your  own  exprefs  Declarations, 
you  feem  intirely  to  have  given  up  the  Queflion.— -  However,  I 
IhaN  now  proceed,  according  to  what  I  have  propofed, 

II.  To  confider  what  you  have  offered  to  invalidate  Mr.  Cooke's  Ar- 
guments, advanced  in  Favour  of  the  Negative  Part  of  the  Queflion. 
Where  it  is  obfervable,  after  you  have  propofed  the  Queftion,  as^ 
above,  your  firft  Attack  is  by  way  of  Qiiery,  thus,*  But,  pray  Sir,  bow 
did  you  prove  it  ?  fVhy  by  this  Argument ;  '*  If  God  had  bound  himfelf 
*'  by  his  Promife,  to  any  of  his  Creatures,  he  is  no  more  at  perfefl 
"  Liberty,  either  to  grant,  or  with-hold  the  promifed  Bleffing,  as 
"  may  pleafe  him,"--Now  (fay  you)  furely  if  this  Argument  proves 
any  Thing,  it  proves  that  no  Promife  at  all,  to  Good,  or  Bad,  is  confiflent 
with  the  divine  Sovereignty ;  and  fo  on. — 

Here,  Sir,  you  muft  have  Patience  with  me,  whilfl  I  attempt  to 
fet  this  Matter  in  a  true  Light  ;  becaufe,  I  apprehend,  you  have  at 
leaft,  when  we  have  made  the  belt  of  it,  here  committed  a  Blunder, 
and  then  made  your  own  Miftake  the  intire  Ground  of  your  break- 
ing out  into  fome  warm  Relle6lions  upon  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cooy^-^,  Author 
of  the&rmowreferr'd  to  ;  as  excluding  the  A^m  Covenant y  and  contem- 
ning the  holy  Scriptures,  as  an  utterly  fenfelefs  and  unmeaning  Thing.  P. 
21,22.  An  awful  Charge  this  !  and  ftillmore  fo  to  him  that  brings  it 
againfl  another,  if  founded  intirely  on  his  own  Mifiake.  Now,  in  or- 
der to  fet  this  Matter  in  a  clear  View,  it  may  not  be  amifs,  to  take  No- 
tice, that  the  Argument  quoted  by  you  is  fetcht  from  the  Author's  Im- 
provement of  that  Subjea,  in  the  Way  of  Inference,  viz  r  «  That 
"  It  IS  a  great  Miftake,  and  of  very  dangerous  Confequence,  which 

many  carnal  Perfons  under  th«  Light  of  the  GofpeJfall  into,  who 

.**  w;ill 


14  Special  Grace  not promifed 

*'  will  perfuade  themfelves,  that  they  are  able  (wich  the  common 
*'  Concurrence  of  divine  Providence  in  upholding  their  Beings  and 
*'  FacLilcies)  to  do  that  which  hath  a  certain  Connection  with,  or  which 
*'  fliall  a[juTedly  ijjhe  in,  their  Converfion  and  eternal  Salvation." 
(Serm.  Pag.  16.)  That  is,  as  the  Author  abundantly  explains  him- 
jelf,  throughout  the  following  Part  of  that  Difcourfe,  "  They  per- 
*^  fwade  themfelves,  that  they  are  able  to  do  that,  which  will  intitle 
*'  them  to  certain  Promifes  of  the  Beftowment  of  effe6tual  Grace.'"-" 
And  having  faid  feveral  Things  for  the  Illuftration  of  this  Poinr, 
he  at  length  argues  in  this  Form,  viz  :  "  If  God  be  a  Sovereign 
"  Difpenfer  of  his  faving  Graces  and  Favours,  and  may  grant  or 
'*  with-hold  them,  according  to  his  meer  good  Pleafure,  as  I  have  en- 
'*  deavoured  before  to  (hew  ,•  then  Sinners  in  their  natural  State. 
^^  have  no  Claim  to  the  Promifes. ''-—ThQ  Form  of  Reafoning  here 
made  ufe  of,  is  plainly  that  of  an  hypothetick  Syllogifm.— -The  Jf- 
fumption,  or  Minor  Proportion,  viz;  *'  That  God  is  a  fovereign  Dif- 
"  penferof  Jois  faving  Grace,  and  may  give,  or  with-hold  it,  according  to 
*'  his  meer  good  Pleafure,  "  This  the  Author  intimates  he  had  befere 
made  good.  The  Confequence  is  clear  and  undeniable,  viz.  '*  That 
"  if  God  be  a  So'sereign  Difpenfer  of  his  faving  Grace  to  Sinners, 
^'  may  grant,  or  with-hold  it,  according  to  his  meer  good  Pleafure, 
''  then,  Sinners  have  no  Claim  to  it  by  gracious  Promifes  made  by  God 
"  to  any  Doings  of  theirs." 

Now  the  whole  Defign  of  the  Juthor  in  the  Ufe  of  thofe  Words 
(quoted  by  you)  was  to  confirm  this  Confequence  ;   and  lay  open  the 
Inconfiftency  there  is,  between  God's  bellowing  faving  Grace  on  the 
Sinner,  in  the  way  oi  fovereign  free  Favour,  as  being  at  perfedl  Li- 
lerty,  either  to  grant,  or  with-hold  it,  according  to  his  meer  good 
Pleafure,-— And  his  a6ling  herein  at  the  fame  time  in  the  Charafter 
of  a  Judge  or  Rewarder,  obliged  by  his  Promifes  to  the  Doings  of 
the  'Sinner.     And  the  Words  fully  anfwer  the  Purpofe,  for  which 
they  were  ufed  :  for  if  God  once  makes  a  Promife  to  his  Creatures, 
]^e  is  no  more  at  perfeft  Liberty,   whether  to  grant,  or  with-hold 
the  promifed  Bleffing.     So  that  the  Inconfiftency  between  thefe  two 
is  equal  to  that  of  the  fame  Perfon's  being  bound  and  free,  at  the 
fame.  Time,  and  in  the  fame  Refpeft  :  Things  impoffible  in  Na- 
ture, oppofite  States,  Contraries,  that  can  never  agree  to  one  and 
the  fame  Perfon.     So  that  if  one  of  thefe  be  true,  the  other  mult 
neceffarily  be  fal/^.     Thus  it  is  evident,  the  Words  you  quote,  do 
fully  prove  what  they  were  brought  to  prove. 

Now  inftead  of  properly  denying  any  Part  of  the  Argument,  or 
difcovering  any  Weaknefs  in  it,  you  only  with  great  Aflurance  at- 


ro  fl«y  Endeavours  o/ f/;^  Unregener ATE.  15 

firm,  that  furely  if  this  Argument  proves  any  Thing,  it  proves  that  no 
Promife  at  all,  to  Good  or  Bad,  is  confiflent  with  the  Divine  Sovereign- 
ty :  and  then  where  is  there  any  Place  for  any  New  Covenant,  or  indeed 
Old  either  ?  And  if  the  Cafe  be  fo  (fay  you)  away  with  the  Bible  fure 
enough  /'     and   fo  on. 

But  pray,  Sir,  think  a  little,  whether  you  have  Truth  with  you, 
in  what  you  here  affirm.  You  fay,  If  this  Argument  proves  any  Thing, 
it  proves  that  no  Promife  at  all,  to  Good  or  Bad,  is  conjiflent  with  the  di- 
vine Sovereignty.-- "MVkh  your  Leave,  Sir,    Had  you  here  juflly  and/ 
carefully  diflinguiflied,  and  faid,  This  Argument  proves,  that   n6 
Promife  at  all  to  Good  or  Bad,  is  conOftent  with  abfolute  Sovereign- 
ty, in  Refpedl  to  conferring  the  Good  promlfed  :  i.  e.  That  there- 
in God  a<Sls  not  as  a  Sovereign,  at  perfctt  Liberty,  to  granr^  or  to 
with-hold  the  Good  promifed  ;  becaufe,  in  that  Particular,  he  hath 
obliged  himfd^  by  his  gvdclous  Promife  :  you  had  exprefled  your  felf 
much  more  agreeable  to  the  Truth,     This  is  what  that  Argument  was 
brought  to  prove,  and    undeniably  does    prove. ----But,  Dear   Sir, 
How  does  this  exclude   the  New   Covenant,   or  not  leave  any  Place 
for  it  1  or  how  does  it  contemn  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  as  a  meerlmpof- 
ture,  a  meer  Farce,  and  utterly  a  fenfelefs  and  unmeaning  Thing  ?  Had 
you,  Sir,  kept  to  I'ruth  in  this  Inflance,  you  had  laved  all  thofe 
hard  Speeches,  with  which  you  fill  up  a  great  Part  of  three  Pages 
together,  (p.  21,  22,  23.) 

However,  granting,  this  Argument  proves,  as  is  above  conceded,, 
yet  how  does  it  from  hence  appear,  that  no  Promife,  to  Good  or 
Bad, is /o  confiflenc  with  the  diwiriQ Sovereignty,  as  to  allow  any  Place 
forNeiv  Covenant,  or  Old  either,  or  the  Being  oi  n.ny  Promifes  zi  all! 
This  is  VA^hat  you  confidently  enough  affirm,  that  the  Argument 
proves,  if  it  proves  any  Thing.  But  this  is  your  own  grand  iVIif- 
take  :  you  have,  in  this  particular,  evidently  gone  beyond  the 
Truth.  How  do  you  infer,  that  if  God's  obliging  bimfelf  by  gracious- 
Promifes,  to  any  of  bis  Creatures,  be  inconfifient  with  his  being  at  Li- 
berty to  grant  or  with-hold  the  Thing  promifed,  then  it  is  inconfijlent  alfo 
with  his  making  any  Promifes  at  all,  or  entering  into  any  Covenant  at 
all !  I  can't  fee  how  God's  being  oblig.edby  his  Promifes,  iDhen  made 
to  any  of  his  Creatures,  and  fo  not  being  at  Liberty  to  perform,  or 
not  perform  them,  as  he  pleafeth,  does  in  the  lead  militate  againfb 
the  Bmg  of  any  Promifes  at  all,  or  fubvert  the  New  Covenant. 
Further, 

Are  not  the  Author's  Words,,  which  you  quote,  and  call  this  Ar-. 

fument,  moft  evidently  true  ?    Nay,  arc  they  not. fo  true,  as  thac^' 
•om  Reafon,  Scripture^and  the  Attributes  of  God,  it  is  impoffible 

they 


1(5  Special  Grace  not  promi/ed 

they  fliould  be  otherwife  than  true?  For  if  a  Promife  made  to  ano- 
ther be,  in  it's  own  Nature,  binding,  and  God  be  a  God  of  Truth, 
who  cannot  lie,  then  it  is  impolTible  but  that,  if  God  makes  a  Pro- 
mife to  any  of  his  Creatures,  it  mud  be  binding,  and  his  Truth 
obhges  him  to  Performance.  Which  is  the  Sum  total  of  what  is 
contained  in  the  Author's  Words.  And  if  fo,  how  was  it  poffible. 
Sir,  that  you  fliould  make  (diall  I  fay  ?)  fuch  dreadful  Work,  with 
a  plain,  rational,  fcriptural  Truth,  as  en  the  Account  thereof,  to 
throw  out  thofe  black  Imputations  on  the  Rev.  Author  !  However, 
I  charitably  hope  and  believe  that  all  this,  in  you,  arifes  from  no- 
thing worfe  than  a  grofs  Miftake,  and  may  be  imputed  to  a  too 
hafty  Proceeding,  without  clear  Ideas.  Yet  in  Faithfulnefs  to  the 
Caufe  of  Truth,  and  to  you,  Rev.  Sir,  I  muft  obferve,  'cis  evidently 
fuch  a  Miftake  as  is  very  blame-wort hy,  and  fcarce  excufable.— And 
that, 

I.  Becaufe  on  this  Miftake  alone  you  evidently  ground  all  thofe 
cenforious,  and  unchriftian  Reflexions  you  make  on  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Cooke,  in  your  Letter,  Pag.  21,  22,  23.  Where  you  reprefent  him 
as  one  flying  in  the  Face  of  the  whole  Scriptures  ;  denying  any  Promi- 
fes  at  all  — deftroying  the  very  Being  of  the  New  Covenant  —-and  by 
Confequence,  of  the  whole  Defign,  and  Purport  of  all  revealed  Religion  ! 
This  you  confefs  is  a  heavy  Charge,  and  grieve  over  the  Gentle- 
man's having  brought  it  upon  himfelf,  and  then  refolve  all  into  this,' 
as  the  Means  by  which  he  has  done  \t,viz.  his  having  afferted,  that. 
If  God  bad  once  bound  himfelf  by  his  Promife  to  any  of  his  Creatures,^  he 
is  no  more  at  perfect  Liberty  either  to  grant  or  with-hold  the  promifed 
Blejfing^  as  may  pleafe  him,  but  is  inviolably  holden  by  his  own  Promife. 
A  Truth,  as  evident  both  from  Scripture  and  Reafon  (and  as  inno- 
cently afferted)  as  any  other  Truth  in  the  whole  Book  of  God  : 
And  yet,  bv  fome  unknown  Art  of  yours,  the  Rev.  Author  muft  be 
thus  blackiied  !  How  is  it  poffible  for  Innocence  it  felf  to  efcape, 
where  men  will  allow  themfelves  in  fuch  Treatment  of  one  ano- 
ther ? 

'  2.  Another  Aggravation  attending  this  Miftake,  is,  that  it  was 
committed  in  a  Cafe  fo  exceeding  plain  and  eafy  ;  that  it  is  fcarce 
conceivable,  how  any  one  unprejudic'd  and  duly  difpofed  (though 
but  of  a  common  Capacity)  fliould  fall  into  it.----Had  the  Cafe  re- 
quired uncommon  Sagacity,  deep  Penetration,  or  accurate  Difcerr- 
ing,  in  order  todiftinguifli  between  God's  Promifes  obliging  him  fo 
as  to  be  inconfiftent  with  his  being  at  perfect  Liberty,  either  to 
perform  or  not  perform  them,  when  made,  and  their  obliging  him  fo 
as  to  be  inconfiftenf  with  their  being  made  at  all,-"the  Miftake  had 

been 


to  any  Endeavours  of  ths  Unregenerate.  17 

been  much  more  excufable.  But  fmce  thofe  Ideas  are,  not  only 
dillindl,  but  very  manifeftly  (0,  ic  is  hardly  conceivable,  how  any 
one  (hould  imagine  fuch  a  Connexion,  or  fo  near  a  Relation  be- 
tween them,  as  that  theonefliould  be  infer'd  from  the  other  j  which 
is  the  prefent  Cafe. 

To  conclude  this  Particular,  though  I  am  refolved,  fo  far  as  pof- 
fible,  confident  with  Truth,  to  be  on  the  charitable  Side  :  Yet  I  can 
do  no  lefs  than  refer  it  to  your  own  ferious  Confideration,  whether 
it  be  not  evidently  from  your  own  intire  Mifiake,  at  lead,  that  you 
charge  all  thofe  frightful  Things  mentioned  on  the  Rev.  Author  : 
And  if  you  find  thfs  to  be  the  Cafe,  I  would  charitably  hope,  you 
will  give  the  World  Conviction  by  your  Pra6lice,  as  well  as  by  your 
Words  (Page  i.)  That  you  defire  nothing  more^  than  to  know  the  Truths, 
that  you  may  he  governed  by  it. 

You  go  on  to  produce  fome  Proof,  that  there  are  Promifes,  in  the 
Scriptures  :  what  no  one,  I  fuppofe,  ever  denied.  You  appeal  to 
any  Man  of  common  Senfe,  that  reads  the  Bible  carefully,  whether 
there  be  not  Promifes'm  it :  And  then  very  gravely qaote  2  Fet.  1.4. 
to  prove  the  Point.  Here  I  fliall  only  appeal,  with  you,  to  any 
Man  of  common  Senfe,  whether  this  Management  be  not  trifling, 
and  unworthy  a  grave  Divine  ?  But  you  carry  on  your  Appeal  flill 
further,  and  expoftulate,  '^  Whether  it  he  not  manifejlly  the  Defign 
and  Tendency  of  the  whole  Scriptures,  from  the  Beginning  to  ths  End,  to 
inculcate  thefe  two  Points,  viz.  To  put  Mankind  upon  the  mojl  vigorous 
Adiivity  in  feeking  and  purfuing  their  everlajling  Happinefs  ;  and  then 
to  afcertain  to  them  Siiccefs  in  fo  doing  1  '*  Is  it  not  (  fay  you  )  one 
of  the  firft  Things  you  read  in  Genefis,  after  the  Fall  (4.  7.)  If 
thou  dofi  well,  [halt  thou  not  he  accepted  ?  And  the  lafl:  in  Revela- 
tions (22.  14)  Blcffed  are  they  that  do  his  Commandments,  that  they  may 
have  a  Right  to  the  Tree  of  Life  ? 

I  anfwer,  If  thefe  qualifying  Words,  viz.  through  welldoing,  he  ad- 
ded, either  exprefly  or  implicitly,  to  your  Propsfuions,  they  are 
both  true,and  can  be  made  good  from  the  Scriptures :  other  wife  they 
are  both  falfe  ;  for  the  Scripture  no  v/here  puts  Mankind  upon 
feeking  their  everlafling  Happinefs,  or  afoertains  them  Succefs  in 
the  Purfuit,  in  any  other  Way  than  that  of  IVcll-doing,  truly  fuch 
in  the  Account  of  God^i.  e.  Doing  his  Commandments ;  which  being 
clius  underflood  (as  certainly  they  mud  be,  in  order  either  to  their 
being  true,  or  there  being  any  Pertinency  in  the  Texts  brought  fur 
^rheir  Proof)  what  is  there  in  them  to  your  Purpofe  ?  Will  the  Con- 
il^qiience  hold  good,  That,  becaufe  God  ha?  promifed  eternal  Life 
'')  thofe,  who  do  his  Commandments  (who  in  the  Way  of  fFell-doing 

C  feck 


i8  Special  Grace  not pmpifed 

feek  for  Glory)  Therefore  he  has  promifed  the  Beflowment  of  fpe- 
cial  Grace,  to  the  Doings  of  the  Unregencrate,  that  are  under  the  Guile 
and  Dominion  of  Sin  ? 

How  then  you  fliould  once  imagine  (if  really  you  did  fo)  that 
thefe  Texts  had  any  Reference  to  the  Queflion  in  Hand,  is  beyond 
me  to  conceive  :  unlefs  it  fliould  be  fuppofed,  that  well-doing  m  the 
Account  of  God,  or  (which  is  the  fame)  Doing  his  Commandments,  fo 
as  to  have  Right  to  the  Tree  of  Life,  is  what  agrees  to  the  Unregene- 
rate,  under  the  Guilt  and  Dominion  of  Sin  ;  which  certainly  none 
will  pretend  to. 

Befides,  Is  it  not  exceeding  clear  from  the  Occafion  and  Defign 
of  thofe  Words,  quoted  from  Gen.  4.  7.  (if  intended  in  a  Gofpel- 
Senfe)  That  by  well-doing  there  mufl;  be  meant  Nothing  lliort  of 
Compliance  with  the  New  Covenant,  prefenting  Services,  and  Of- 
ffcriugs  to  the  bleffed  God  with  a  Refpeft  had  to  the  Mediator,  by 
Faith,  for  their  Jcceptance  ?  And  is  it  not  exprefly  witnefled  by  the 
Holy  Ghofl  (in  Heb.  11.  4.)  That  by  Faith  Abel  offered  a  more  excel- 
lent Sacrifice  than  Cain  ?  And  if  ro_,  is  it  not  certain  that  Cain's  not  of- 
fering his  Sacrifice  in  Faith  was  his  doing  not  well,  fo  that  Sin  lay  at 
the  Door,  and  flood  in  tlie  Way  of  God's  gracious  Acceptance  ?  Is 
It  not  alio  abundairJy  evident,  ihat  the  Defign  of  the  Lord's  Rea- 
foning  with  Cain^  wlierein  thefe  Words  are  made  \]{'q  of,  was  to 
point  cut  to  him  his  own  Sin,  as  the  true  Ground  of  that  Differ- 
ence (whereat  lie  was  much  oifended)  made  by  the  hoiy  God,  be- 
tween his  Sacrifice  and  his  Brother's,  in  point  of  Jcceptance;  And 
thertrbv  to  fet  before  him  Matter  of  Conviftion,  that  bis  Anger  a- 
gainfl  God,  and  agiinfi  his  Brother,  was  intirely  groundlefs  V---y^/2i 
ihe  Lord  [aid  ih'Jo  Cain,  IVby  art  thou  wroth  ?  And  why  is  thy  Coun- 
tenance fallen  ?  If  thou  dojt  well,  (loalt  thou  not  be  accepted  ?  i.  e. 
(according  to  good  Expoficors)  If  thou  hmi\  done  well,  as  thy  Brother 
did,  thou  ilioaldfi:  have  been  accepted '<is  he  war,  viz.  If  thou  hadfl 
ofl'cr'd  tny  Sacrifice  in  Faith,  with  an  Eye  to  the  Mediator  for  Ac- 
ceptance, thou  hadft  been  QqmWy  accepted  of  God  with  thy  Brother. 
And  if  thou  dofi  not  well.  Sin  lieth  at  the  Door,  i.  e.  If  through  the 
Pride  of  thine  Heart,  not  duly  confidering  thy  own  Sinfulnefs,  or 
the  infinite  Purity  of  my  Nature,  and  that  the  Way  of  Life  by  the 
firfi;  Covenant,  the  Way  of  immediate  Approach  to,  and  Acceptance 
with  God,  by  any  Services  or  Offerings  whatfoever,  is  by  JNIan's 
Apoftacy  intirely  and  for  ever  fliut  up,  and  awfully  guarded  by  a 
Band  of  Angels,'  and  a  flaming  Sword,  that  turns  every  Way  to 
keep  tiije  Way  of  the  Tree  of  Life,  i.  e.  that  Way  of  Life  by  Man's 
Hoin^  the  Lqw;  or  perfjnal  Obedience,  ihQ  Doing  in  order  to  Life  pro- 

pofed 


to  any  EndeavoIjrs  r/ r/!i^  Unri: generate.  19 

pofed  in  the  firjl  Covenant,  which  (it  feems)  the  Ufe  of  the  Tres 
of  Life,  as  a  Sacrament  cf"  that  Covenant,  was  defign'd  to  ratify  and 
confirm,  and  that  the  only  Way  now  of  Approach  to,  and  Ac- 
ceptance with  an  infinitely  holy  God,  for  the  fallen  Creature,  is  by 
Faith  in  the  Mediator;  If  thus  arrogantly,  in  thy  ownSelf-fufficiency, 
thou  haft  prefumed  to  approach  unco  God,  and  prefent  thy  OfFer- 
ingin  ameer  moral  or  legal,  and  immediate  Y^ ay,  and  not  by  Faith  in 
the  Mediation  of  the  promifed  Seed,  in  this  thou  bnfl  done  not  well,  fo 
ih^x.Sin  Uetb  attheDoGv:  ih'is  thy  Unbelief  binds  Sin  upon  thee,  expofes 
thee  to  Punifiimenr,  and  is  a'  Bar  in  the  Way  cf  any  the  leaft 
Expreflion  of  my  Pvefpe^  to  thee  or  thy  OlFering.  And  of  thefe 
Things  you  have  had  proper  Notice,  as  well  as  your  Brother  : 
therefore  if  after  all  you  will  dare  thus  prefumptuoufly  to  approach 
me  in  this  antiquated /^^«/  Way,  and  not  in  the77^TO  and  living  Way^ 
through  a  Mediator,  you  can  blame  only  your  own  Folly  for  the 
Difappointment   you  are  angry  at. 

Now  that  this  is  the  plain  Meaning  of  thefe  Exprefrions,con- 
flrued  in  an  Evangelical  Senfe,  and  in  Analogy  with  the  Chriftian 
Revelation,  is  evident.     For, 

1.  It  is  certain,  Cains  Fault  in  this  Matter  mufl:  be,  at  lead  efpe- 
cially,  his  not  offering  his  Sacrifice  in  Faith,  refpe6ling  the  Mediator^ 
the  promifed  Seed. 

2.  It  is  certain,  the  Lord's  Dcfegn,  by  Reafoning  with  him,  in  the^ 
Ufe  of  thefe  Words,  muft  be,  to  point  out  to  him  his  Fault,  in  this 
Matter. 

3.  It  is  therefore  certain,  that  thefe  ExprefTions,  If  thou  doft  not} 
laellj  muft  point  out  his  Fault  in  not  offering  his  Sacrifice  in  Faith, 
and  confequently  that  the  doing  fVell,  fpoken  of  as  that  upon  which, 
he  fliould  have  been  acceptedy  muft  mean  his  offering  his  Sacrifice  in 
Faith  :  for  if  his  Unbelief  was  that  ;wf  doing  'well,  whereby  he  failed' 
of  Acceptance,  then  his  Faith  muft  be  that  doing  ivell,  which  would 
have  fecured  his  Acceptance. --- Upon  the  whole  therefore,  if  by 
doing  v^ell  here,  as  fpoken  of  to  Cain,  be  meant  his  complying" 
wiih  the  Keixi  Covenant,  approaching  to  God  through  a  Mediator,. 
and  prefenting  his  Offerings  m  his  Name,  and  if  this  te  evidently  con- 
nedted  with  his  Acceptance  with  God,  or  his  having  Right  to  an^^ 
the  leaft  Expreffion  of  God's  Favour,  How  is  it  poffible  by  this 
Text  to  prove,  or  from  it  juftly  to  infinuate.  That  the  Unregcnevjtc, 
imder  the  Guile  and  Doniinion  of  Sin,  i.  e.  Short  of  Faith  in  the 
Mediator,  have  a  Right  to  the  Beftowment  of  fpecial  Grace,  by  Vir- 
tue of  feme  Promije  made  (though  fuppoftng  it  of  meer  Grace)  to 
certain  Doings  of  their  own  ?— -Whether  this  be  not  to  pervert  this 

Scripture 


20  Special  Grace  not  promifed 

Scripture  from  it's  true  Meaning,  I  refer  to  all  impartial  and  judici- 
ous Readers. 

But  it  is  efpecially  wonderful  to  me,  Sir,  when  you  feemed  to  fetch 
{o  large  a  Compafs,  and  carry  the  whole  Scripture  before  you,  from 
the  Beginning  of  Genefis  to  the  End  of  the  Revelation,  as  tho'  every 
Page  and  Line  were  on  your  Side  of  the  Qiieflionj  that  on  fuch  a 
Survey  of  the  whole  facred  Canon  you  fliould  fix  on  this  Text  in 
particular,  as  one  mofl  clear  and  full  to  your  Purpofe;  a  Text  which, 
not  only  does  not  contain  the  leaft  Shadow  of  a  Hint  in  Favour  of 
your  Opinion,  but  is  a  clear  and  lliining  Teftimony  againft  it  1  •- 
for. 

If  the  Performance  of  that  Duty,  which  as  to  the  general  Nature 
of  ir,  we  are  fure,  and  for  any  Thing  the  Scripture  informs  us,  as 
to  the  particular  Circumftances  attending  it  (except  the  Want  of  Faith) 
was  agreeable  to  the  /Vill  of  God,  was  notwithflanding  this  rejc^ed 
of  God  for  the  Want  of  Faith  ;  What  clearer  Teflimony  can  be 
given.  That  God  is  obliged  by  no  gracious  Promifes,  to  Jhew  his  fpecial 
Favour  to  the  fallen  Creature,  on  any  Condition,  fhort  of  Faith  in  the  Me- 
diator ?  Was  not  Cain  by  awful  Experience  convinced  of  this?  And 
does  not  this  Example  contain  Matter  of  more  powerful  Convidlion, 
to  all  Mankind  acquainted  with  ir,  than  any  Declaration  by  meer 
Words  could  do  ?  Inafmuch  as  it  is  a  Verification  of  what  God  has 
faid,  in  the  lafi  Verfe  of  the  preceeding  Chapter  :  Signifying,  that 
God  himfelf,  as  a  confuming/^i/-^,  is  engaged  againil,  any  of  the  fallen 
Race's  being  entitled  to  his  fpecial  Favour,  by  any  Means  whatfo- 
ever,  fhort  of  Faith  in  the  Mediator.     But  to  proceed, 

In  the  next  Place  you  afTert  a  Right,  at  leafl  a  conditional  Rigb£ 
to  certain  Bleffings,  pafftid  over  to  us  by  the  Promifes.---  ^'  What 
elfe  (fay  you)  can  bo  made  of  them,  hut  that  God  defigned  to  pafs  over 
a  Right,  at  kaji  a  conditional  Right  to  his  Creatures  of  what  he  promifes 
them?  —The  Matter  and  the  Being  of  the  Promifes  indeed  (you  con- 
ceed)  are  of  meer  fovereign  free  Grace  ;  '*  But  furely  (fay  you)  not- 
'withjtanding  this,  when  he  has  been  gracioujly  pleafed  to  grant  us  thefe 
precious  Promifes,  it  mufl  have  been  his  Dejign  to  pafs  over  a  Right  to 
lis  of  the  Bleffings  promifed,  i.  e.  a  conditional  Right. 

Here  Sir,  I  mult  confefs  my  felf  unable,  with  any  Certainty,  to 
fix  on  your  Meaning  :  And  while  this  is  the  Cafe,  it  is  impofTible 
for  me  to  determine,  what  I  fliould  think  proper  to  reply,  in  Cafe 
the  Meaning  of  what  is  faid  were  afcertain'd.  However,  while  by 
this  loofe  Manner  of  dealing  in  doubtful  Generals,  we  are .  left  un- 
capable  of  making  a  pertinent  Reply,  with  any  Certainty,  to  what 
is  intended  ;  Yet  at  the  fame  Time  we  are  fecured,  that  fuch  Man- 
ner 


to  any  Endeavours  of  the  Unregenerate.  21 

ner  of  Dealing  can  never  prove  any  1  hing  againfl  or  hurt  the  Caufe, 
that  is  thus  oppofed,  except  it  be  in  the  JMinds  of  thofe,  who  are  car- 
ried au'ay  by  Sounds,  vv^ithoutany  determinate  Ideas.  Neverthelefs 
to  malie  the  befl  Guefs  1  can  in  the  Cafe.  -■- 

If,  by  a  conditional  Right  to  the  BleJJings  promifed,  you  mean  a  Right 
to  Grace  and  Glory,  and  every  good  Thing,  pafs'd  over  to  us  in  Cafe  of 
an  upright  fValk  before  God,  I  readily  grant  it ;  and  that  this  Right 
is  given  us  on  the  Score  of  God's  meer  Grace  in  Chrijt.  But  if  you 
mean  (as  I  think  you  mufb,  in  Order  to  mean  any  Thing  to  your 
Purpofe)  by  a  conditional  Right  to  BlcJJings  promifed,  a  Right  to  the 
Beftowment  of  ejfe^ual  converting  Grace,  pafs'd  over  to  the  Unrege- 
Ksrate,  on  Condition  of  certain  Doings  of  theirs  ;  in  this  Cafe  you 
proceed  on  a  falfe  Hypothefis,  and  evidently  take  for  granted,  that 
very  Point  in  Debate,  and  which  you  fliould  have  proved.  "  In 
bis  Right  therefore  (fay  you)  ive  mujt  plead,  who  has  purchafed  this  Be- 
nefit for  us,  and  not  in  the  Firtue  or  Merit  of  any  Thing  we  do,  which 
we  can  only  humbly  con/ider  as  meer  Qiialifi,cations ,  necejjary  to  render  us 
capable  of  receiving  what  God  in  Chrijt  hath  freely  promifed.'—fVe  muft 
pkad,---\i  you  here  mean  pleading  for  the  Bellowment  of  effeftunl 
converting  Grace  ,•  and  if  by  any  Thing  we  do  being  conjidered  only  as 
meer  Qualifications,  &c.  you  mean  fomething  lefs  than  what  hath  in 
it  the  Na'.ure  of  a  Condition,  What  is  this  lliort  of  giving  up  the 
Queflion  ?  For  if  there  be  no  Conditions  on  Man's  Part,  then 
fpecial  Grace  is  not  bedowed  in  the  Way  of  God's  performing  his 
Promifs  to  any  Doings  of  the  Sinner  as  fijch.  But  if,  by  our  Doings 
being  confidered  only  as  meer  Qualifications,  you  mean  fomething  that 
hath  in  ic  the  Nature  of  a  Condition,  to  which  a  Promife  of  the  Be- 
ftowment of  effectual  converting  Grace  is  annexed,  then  where  is 
the  Injuftice  you  charge  upon  the  Juthor,  for  reprefenting  your 
Do6lrine  as  allerting  the  Sinner's  Right,  arifing  from  the  Perfor- 
mance of  fuch  Condition,  and  his  pleadable  Claim  thereupon  to  the 
Good  promifed  ? 

Again,  If,  by  the  Benefit  purchafed  for  us,  be  meant  a  condifwial 
Right  to  eternal  Salvation,  or  the  Gofpel  it  felf,  and  the  Covenant- 
Promifes  therein,  whence  fuch  conditional  Right  arifwth  ,•  it  may 
fafely  be  granted,  that  Chrift  hath  purchafed  this  Benefit  for  us.— - 
But  if,  by  the  Benefit  purchafed  for  us,  you  mean,  among  other  Things, 
a  conditional  Right  to  the  Beftowment  of  converting  Grace,  pafTcd  over 
to  the  Unregenerate,  in  the  Gofpel-Promife,  or  a  Right  granted  them 
on  Condition  of  certain  Doings  of  theirs,  then  what  you  have  faid  in 
the  above-quoted  PalTage  is  intirely  to  be  fet  afide,  as  founded  oa 
9  Suppofition  not  true.  The  Being  of  the  Sinner's  Right  to  the  Be- 
«.  llowmejj^ 


■2'2  S  r  £  C  I  A  L    G  R  A  C  E  iiot  pYomijed 

ftowmenc  of  converdng  Grace,  by  Virtue  of  any  Promifes  made  to 
his  own  Doings  or  Endeavours,  is  che  very  Thing  called  in  Queftion: 
and  therefore  I  call  it  a  Suppofiticn  not  true^  and  till  ic  be  proved, 
mufl:  look  upon  ic  in  that  Light. 

In  a  Word,  v/liat  you  have  faid  above  of  a  Conditional  Right  pajjed 
over  to  us,  and  of  the  Benefit  pnrchafed  for  iis,  was  either  meant  to  in- 
clude in  it  the  Iden  of  a  conditional  Right  to  the  Beflowment  of  con- 
verting Grace,  puffed  over  to  unregenerate  Sinners,  or  not.  If  this  be 
included,  then,  for  the  Reafons  above,  what  you  have  faid.  here  is 
tobeintirely  fee  afide,  together  with  that  you  have  faid  of  the  View 
in  which  our  Doings  are  humbly  to  be  confidered.  But  if  not,  then 
what  you  have  there  faid,  is  nothing  to  the  Purpofe.  And  fo  I  may 
pafs  on  to  confider  the  Grounds  of  what  you  further  advance  by 
Way  of  Charge  againft  the  Rev.  Author,  in 'the  following  Words.— 

*'  It  iKias  therefore  (fay  you)  '■oery  iinjiiji  for  you  to  put  Things  infiich 
-rt  ridiculous  Light  as  you  did,  to  talk  of  owing,  claiming,  challenging, 
Sc.  No-Body  ever  dreamt  of  iifing  fuch  Language  to  God,  which  could 
not  become  an  Angel^much  lefs  a  fallen,  fwful  Creature,  when  the  Matter^ 
and  indeed  the  very  Being  of  the  Promifes  is  Matter  of  free  Grace. 
By  Way  of  Reply  here,  I  fay, 

I.  It  may  be  confidered,  that  the  Author,  in  making  UCq  of  thefe 
Expreflions,  was  only  defigning  to  perfonate  thofe  of  your  Opinion, 
who  maintain,  that  converting  Grace  is  beftowed  according  to  JVorks 
done  by  the  Unregenerate,  under  the  Dominion  and  Guilt  of  Sin,  in 
the  Way  of  God's  performing  his  Covenant- Engagements,  made  to  cer- 
tain Seekings  and  Strivings  of  theirs.  And  now  becaufe  the  Author 
did  not  fet  himfelf  to  corre6l  their  feveral  Ways  of  expreffing  their 
own  Ideas  in  this  Matter  ;-— as  one,  That  by  his  Endeavours  he  was 
infured  of  the  Beflowment  of  eff'e^ual  Grace  ;  Another,  That  he  was 
entitled,  had  a  Claim,  or  Right  :---A  Third,  That  he  was  thereby  inter- 
efted  ;-"-And  fome  fo  bold  in  ExprelTion,  as  to  affert,  That  God  had 
pomifcd  to  their  Endeavours,  and  by  their  Endeavours  they  could  therefore 
£ballenge  .'----Becaufe  (I  fay)  the  Author  did  not  enter  into  Difpute 
with  this  Sort  of  People,  for  their  affumingSLud  challenging  Language, 
nor  teach  them  in  what  Manner  of  ExprelTion,  Perfons  of  that  Opi- 
mon  fhould  addrefs  themfelves  to  God,  vv'hich  did  not  at  ail  belong 
to  his  Subje6l,  but  inflead  thereof  endeavoured  to  convince  them  of 
the  grand  Error  at  Bo!tom,\vluch  was  the  miftaken  Ground  of  all  that: 
"Variety  of  bold  Phrafes  made  Ufe  of  by  them  ;  therefore  he  is  diu!^ 
very  unjufi,  in  your  Judgment  ;  But,  I  charitably  believe,  not  Tq 
©n  this  Account,  in  any  other  Perfon's  in  all  the  World. 

s.  It  is  obfervable  here^  that  whjic  you  condemn  in  the  Author, 

'  .  as 


to  any  Endeavours  &/ /^e  Unr  eg  en  er  ate.  23- 

as  tinjuft  and  Jetting  Things  in  a  ridiculous  Light,  is  not  the  menion- 
ing  only  of  Ibme  one  of  ihefe  Expreffions,  but  of  fuch  a  Variety,  ^nd 
of  fome  as  well  as  others  ;  as  feems  evident  by  your  adding  an 
^c.  (Page  24.)  Now  had  the  Author  mentioned  only  fuch  Phrafes 
as  founded  moil  harfh,  to  exprefs  that  Connexion  between  the  Do- 
ings of  the  Unregenerate  and  the  Beftowment  of  effetlual  Grace, 
maintained  by  thofe  of  your  Opinion;  or  had  you  condemned  only 
fuch  Expreffions,  I  had  readily  fo  far  conceded.  But  fince  the  Au- 
thor makes  Ufe  of  a  great  Variety  of  Expreffions,  and  among  o- 
thers,  of  many  of  the  loi^iefi  Sort,  by  which  fuch  Connexion  canpof- 
fibly  be  exprelled,  fuch  as-— the  Sinner's  being  by  his  Endeavours 
Injured,  AJJured,  Imit/edy  Interejied  ;  nay,  "  doing  that  which  hath  a 
"  certain  Connexion  with,  or  which  fliall  farely  ijfue  in  their  Converfion." 
{Ser.Vzg.i6,i'j,^c^  And  fince  you  condemn,  in  the  Author,  the  Ufe  of 
thefe  loweji  Expreffions,  by  which  any  Jure  Connexion  between  theSin- 
ner'sEndeavours,  and  theBeflowment  of  effeftual  Grace,  can  poffibly 
be  exprefs'd  ;  Is  not  this  again  entirely  to  give  up  the  Queftion  ?  For 
if  the  Ufe  of  the  loweft  Expreffions,  by  which  this  Connexion  can  be 
exprefs'd,  is  to  be  condemned  as  very  unjiift,  and  putting  of  Thiw^s 
in  a  ridiculous  Light,  it  mull  be  becaufe  there  is  indeed  no  Connexion 
between  the  Doings  of  the  Unregenerate,  and  the  Beflowmenc 
of  effedlual  Grace  :  And  if  fo,  then  no  Promijes  made  to  thefe. 
at  all. 

The  Reafon  affign'd  here,  with  a  View  to  make  this  Charge  good 
againll  the  Author,  is.  That  the  Matter,  and  indeed  the  very  Iking  of 
the  Promijes  J  is  Matter  of  free  Grace.  Bat  what  Force  of  Argument 
does  this  carry  with  it  V  Have  not  you  with  your  own  Pen  confut- 
ed this  Reafon,  by  what  you  fay  in  "your  23d  Page  ?  Where,  hail- 
ing conceded.  That  the  Matter  and  Being  of  the  Promifes  is  of  ineer  fo- 
vereign  free  Grar^,  vou  fubjoin,  "  But  furely  notivithjtanding  this,  when 
*<^  he  has  teen  picafcd  to  grant  us  thefe  precious  Promifes,  it  muji  have 
'^  been  his  Dejign  to  pafs  over  a  Right  to  us  rf  the  BleJJings  promifcd." 
Now, 

That  the  Matter  and  Being  of  the  Prmifes  being  Matter  of  w^^r 
"Xrace  fhould  in  pag.  23.  be  no  Reafn  at  all,  why  a  Right  fliould  not 
pcijs  by  fuch  Promifes,  and  yet  be  afiigned  as  a  good  Reafon  (in  p.  24)  to 
cenfure  the  Author  you  have  in  Dealing,  as  very  unjufi,  and  ridiculing 
y^nr  DocfriKe,  while  reprefenting  it  as  affierting  a  Right  pajfed  by  Jucl' 
Promifes  ;  this  muft,  I  think,  be  placed  among  the  Inconfiftencies  of 
your  Letter.— -So  very  diiSculta  thing  is  it,  for  any  one,  in  the  De- 
ience  of  Error,  conftantly  to  fpeak  the  fame  Things!  And  when 
tins  IS  the  Cafe,  ic  mud:  neceflluily  be  equally  difficult  for  the  Rea- 
der 


*4-  Special  Grace  not  promifed 

der  to  fix  upon  the  true  Meaning  of  fuch  an  Auchor  ;  or  indeed 
for  his  Anfvvei'er  to  confute  what  is  faid  in  one'Page,  and  not  at  the 
fame  Time  confirm  what  is  faid  in  another. — You  clofe  the  Para- 
graph before  us  with  a  fiimmary  Refleftion  ;  "  Confidering  Things  in 
this  Light  [i.  e.  as  the  Matter,  and  indeed  the  very  Being  of  the 
Promifes,  is  Matter  of  raeer  Grace  ]  then  ix)hat  Senje  is  there  in  youK,-^^!. 
Categoric  Syllogifm,  ajid  all  your  other  Rcafmings  on  this  Subject  ?" 
Where  you  profefledly  offer  a  View  of  the  Promifes  in  this  Light^as 
n-fufiicient  Refutation  of  all  that  Mr.  Cooke  had  faid  on  this  Subject 
in  his  Sermon.  But  the  Weight  and  Force  hereof  having  been 
already  confidered,  I  refer  it  to  every  impartial  Judge.-— And  now 
pafs  on  to  what  I  further  propofcd^, 

in.  To  confider  what  you  have  offer'd  in  Confirmation  o^  the  Jf- 
firmative  Part  of  the  Quellion. 

Thus  the  next  Paragraph  of  your  Letter  hegms>—  But  fiill  you 
*'  injijt  upon  it,  that  there  is  no  Promife  to  the  Unregenerate."— Mean- 
ing  by  the  Unregenerate  (as  in  pag.  22.  you  exprefs  your  underftand- 
ing  of  the  Author)  tho/e  (whether  baptized  or  not)  who  are  under  ths 
Dominion  and  Guilt  of  Sin. 

Where,  having  faid  feveral  Things,  you  demand  of  the  Author  to 
tell  you,  '^  it  there  be  no  Medium  between  an  objlinate  relentlefs  Sin- 
"  ner,  and  one  that  is  throughly  regenerate,  in  his  Sevfe  of  the  IVord  ?" 
And  having  explained  what  you  mean  by  a  Sinnec.in  a  middle  State, 
between  the  Objlinate  and  the  Regenerate^  viz.  "  Gne  who  is  brought 
*^  by  the  AJfiftance  of  common  Grace— -to  be  ferious,  and  really  folicitous 
*'  for  Salvation,  fo  as  being  deeply  fenfihle  of  his  o'j^n  Guilt  and  fVeak- 
''  nefs,  earneftly  to  cry  to  God  for  Help,  and  ftrive  in  earneft  that  he 
*'  may  be  qualified  for  God's  Help.-— Now  (fay  you)  this  is  the  Man  to 
"  whom  J  fay  the  Projnifes  of  divine  efficacious  Aid  or  fpecial  Grace  do 
"  belong.  This  is  he  who  hath,  to  whom  flmll  be  given,  in  our  Savi- 
^'  our's  Senfe,  Matth.  25.  29."— -That  is,  fuch  an  awakened  fi:riv- 
ing  Sinner,  though  by  your  own  ConfefTion  "  not  yet  throughly  con- 
"  verted  from  Sin  to  God,"  you  fay,  is  the  Man  who  hath,  in  our  Sa- 
viour's Senfe,  where  he  faith,  Unto  every  one  that  hath,  [Jjall  he  given, 
and  he  /hall  have  Abundance. 

Here,  fince  you  confidently  affirm  your  Opinion  on  the  Place, 
though  without  advancing  any  the  leafl  Shadow  of  Proof,  I  fiiall 
take  Leave  to  enquire  into  the  Meaning  of  this  Text  :  in  ^Order  to 
which,  it  may  not  be  amifs    to  obferve, 

I.  That  the  Scope  and  Defign  of  the  Parable  of  the  Talents,  to 
which  this  Text   belongs,  is  evidently  to  fhew,  wherein  our  Rea- 

dinefs 


fo  ^wy  Endeavours  0/ f/;g  Unregenerate.  25 

dinefs  for  Chrift's  coming  to  Judgment  muQ:  confid  ,•  and  what  will 
be  the  md\n  Inquiry  oi  the  great  Day,  upon  which  the  final  Decifion 
of  our  everlafting  Fate  will  then  turn,  viz.  whether  we  have  done 
well,  or  ill,  in  the  Account  of  the  New  Covenant?  whether  we've 
been^ooJ  and  faithful  Servants  of  the  Lord,  or  imked  and  flothful, 
>:iiiijin  the  Management  of  the  Talents,  with  which  we  have  been  in- 
truded ?— 

This  doubtjefs  will  readily  be  granted  by  every  impartial  atten- 
tive Reader,  who  duly  confiders  the  Occafion  of  this  Parable,  viz. 
The  Difcourfe,  begun  by  our  Saviour,  in  the  preceeding  Chapter, 
of  his  Second  coming  10  Judgment,  and  continued  down  through  this: 
followed  here  firfi  with  the  Parable  of  the  Ten  Virgins,  evidently 
referring  to  Chrift's  Coming  to  Judgment,  at  the  End  of  the  World, 
and  principally  defign'd  to  awaken  Chriflians  to  the  greater  Watch- 
fulnefs  from  the  Confiderationof  the  Uncertainty 'of  the  Time.  t-i3- 
IVatch  therefore,  for  ye  know  neither  the  Day  nor  the  Hour,  wherein  the 
Son  of  Man  cometh.'—NQXi  follows  this  Parable  of  the  Talents,  ma- 
nifeftly  defign'd  (  as  has  been  obferved  )  to  hold  forth  wherein 
our  Readinffs  for  Chrifl:'s  fecond  Coming  to  Judgment  will  confifl:, 
viz.  in  our  having  fincerely  improved  the  Advantages,  with  [which  we 
have  been  intrulted,  and  fo  having  approv'd  ourfelves  good  and 
faithful  Servant  s,'m  the  Account  of  the  New  Covenant.  And  wherein 
this  will  confifi,  is  further  illufl:rated  in  a  particular  Infi:ance,  put 
for  all  the  refl:,  viz.  that  of  honouring  the  Lord  with  our  Subftance, 
in  A6ls  of  Charity  to  the  Poor,  done  for  Chrift's  Sake  :  contain'd  in 
a  Defcripcion  of  the  Procefs  of  the  laft  Judgment,  continued  to  the 
End  of  the  Chapcer.—And  hence, 

2.  By  the  Reckoning,  here  mentioned  zs  deferred  for  a  long  Tims,  is. 
plainly  to  be  underfiood  the  final  Account,  which  we  mufl  all  in  thac. 
Day  render  to  God,  of  our  refpeftive  Improvements.     This  is  fur- 
ther evident  from    the  Reward  afiign'd  to  the   Faithful,  and   the 
Doom  pafi^ed  on  the  Unfaithful.     To  the  one  isfaid,  Enter  thou  into 
the  Joy  of  thy  Lord  :  but  of  the  other,---- G7/Z  the  uv.prrjitable  Servant 
into  outer  Darhicfs, there  ffjall  be  JVeeping  and  Gnafiing  of  Teeth.  Wliere 
our  Saviour   infenfiblv  ilides  out  of  the  Parable,  into  the  Thing  in- 
tended to  be  fignified  :  and  thereby  gives  us  an   infallible  Key  ro 
the  whole  ;  it  being  plain  here,  tiiac  ihcfe  KxpreiWons,  Outer  Dark- 
nefs,  where  there  is   JVeeping  and  Gnafhing  of  Teeth,  are,  by  a  Pe- 
riphrafis,  ufed  by  our  Saviour^o  fignify'the  Miferies  of  the  Damned 
in  //e//.-— Hence, 

3.  It  follows,  that  by  him  that  hath,  is  evidently  meant  one  who 
fliall  then  be  found  to  have,  in  the  Account  of^God,  what  the  Ncvy 

C  Covenant 


2(5  Special   Grace  not  promifed 

Covenant  requires,  what  in  the  Eye  of  that  Covenant  will  denomi- 
nate him  a  Good  and  Faithful  Servant,  or  one  that  has  done  well.  This 
is  plain,  in  Regard  'cis  with  an  evident  Reference  to  the  making 
up  of  that  final  Account  in  the  Day  o(  Judgment,  that  he  is  here  faid 
to  have.— 'And  hence, 

4.  It  is  equally  evident,  that  by  the  following  Expreffion,  To  him 
flail  be  given,  is  meant  the  final  Reward  of  Glory  in  the  future 
World.-—  ^ 

Now  if  the  Reckoning  here  mentioned,  refers  iniirely  to  the  final 
Account  in  the  Day  of  Judgment  ;  and  if  it  be  the  Scope  and  Dc- 
fign  of  this  Parable,  to  poinc  out  what  that  is,  which  will  then  fland 
us  in  Stead,  in  that  Day  of  Reckoning,  viz.  IVelldoingy  in  the  Ac- 
count of  the  New-Covenant ;  And  if  by  him  that  hath,  be  meant  one 
that  hath  already  exemplified  that  ff'ell-doing,  and  is  thereupon 
adjudg'd  unto  Glory  ;  How  is  it  poffible  that  the  feeking  ftriving 
Sinner,  "  not  yet  converted  throughly  from  Sin  to  God,"  but 
*'  flill  under  the  Dominion  and  Guilt  of  Sin,  "  fliould  be  ^'  the 
"  Man  that  hath,  in  our  Saviour's  Senfe, "  in  this  Parable  ?--Whac 
hath  fi-ich  3  Man  ?  Hath  he  that  which  would  fland  him  in  ftsad, 
were  he  now  ftanding  at  the  Bar  of  God  ?  Hath  he  what  the  New 
Covenant  demands  ?  Hath  he  what,  in  the  Eye  of  that  Covenant,  will 
denominate  him  a  good  and  faithful  Servant,  one  ihai  has  done  well, 
and  ftands  intiiled  to  eternsl  Glory  ?  Can  this  poffibly  be  true  of 
one,  who  (according  to  your  own  Conceffion)  is  *'  under  the  Do- 
"  minion  and-  Guile  of  Sin,"  and  confequently  an  Unbeliever  and 
iivi  Impenitent  in  the  Gofpel-Senfe,  unreconciled  to  God,  and  in  a 
State  of  Enmity  and  Rebellion  againflGod,  and  under  a  righteous  Sen- 
tence of  Condemnation  ?  Nay,  is  not  the  Alan  that  hath,  to  whomjhall 
he  given,  in  this  Parable  of  the  Talents,  evidently  reprefented  by 
our  Saviour  as  one  who  has  pafs'd  the  awful  Trial  of  thg  Great 
Day,  and  is  publickly  approved,  and  welcomed  to  Glory  ?  Well 
done,  thou  good  and  faithful  Servant, —enter  into  the  Joy  of  thy  Lord. 
And  docs  the  feeking,  ftriving  Sinner,  which  you  defcribe,  anfwer 
the  Charaftcr  of  this  Man?  Hath  he  pafs'd  his  laft  Trial?  Is  he 
cpenly  approv'd  of  his  Lord,  and  Vv'elcomed  to  the  State  of  the 
BlelTed  ?  How  therefore  you  could,  fo  confidently  as  you  do,  af- 
firm him  to  be  this  Man,  in  our  Saviour's  Senfe,  I  mufl  leave. 

If  you  (hould  excufe  your  Miftake,  by  alledging  the  Judgment  of 
fom-e  great  and  learned  Men,  that  have  conftrued  this  Parable  in  Fr  = 
vour  of  the  Opinion  ycu  here  advance  ;  I  anfwer,  Every  Error,  ad- 
x'snced  in  the  ChriRian  World,  has  its  Pretence  of  being  grounded 
en  fcn-ic  Text  cf  Scrifturc.    Nor  is  this  ai  all  to  bewonder'd  at :  for 

when 


to  any  Endeivours  of  the  Unregenerate.  27 

when  once  Perfons  have  fallen  into  any  erroneous  Opinion,  the  Fruit 
of  their  own  Imagination,  and  what  appears  to  them  reafonable,  in 
their  own  very  partial  View  of  Things,  they  will  eafily  fancy  fuch 
Opinion  fupported  by  this  or  that  Text  of  facred  Scripture ;  it  may 
be,  by  a  great  Variety  :  And  fometimes  (becaufe  it  is  impoflible,  in 
that  Cafe,  to  fix  upon  any  Text,  that  is  full  and  clear  to  their  Pur- 
pofe)  they  pretend,  that  the  Current  of  the  iuhole  Scripture  runs  that 
Way,  from  the  Beginning  of  Genefts  to  the  End  of  Revelation.  Ne- 
verthelefs,  certainly  this  is  not  to  come  to  the  Scriptures  as  a  pure 
Fountain,  to  derive  our  Opinions  from  thence  ,-  but  to  bring  our  O- 
pinions  with  us  to  the  Scripture,  and  by  the  Help  of  a  llrong  Imagi- 
nation, to  mould  the  Bible  by  them.     Now, 

This  I  take  to  be  evidently  the  Cafe  of  thofe  who  urge  a  Promife 
to  the  Unregenerate,  from  this  Parable.  They  firfl:,  it  feems,  con- 
clude from  their  own  View  of  Things,  that  fuch  3  Promife  to  the  Sin- 
ner is  highly  reafonable,  as  may  fecure  it  in  his  ov^n  Povoer  (at  lead 
morally)  to  be  everlaftingly  happy  :  Which  ConcluHon  being  ground- 
ed partly  on  3  fa^vourable  Thought  of  the  State  of  the  fillen  Creature, 
efpccialiy  on  the  State  of  an  awakened  reforming  Sinner,  as  defcrib- 
ed  above,  they  feem  to  conceive  fome  Fitnefs  in  fuch  a  State  of  the 
Sinner,  qualifying  him  fir  Help  from  God,  and  conflituting  him  a  pro- 
per Subjcft  of  gracious  Promijes.  This  feems  to  be  intimated  in 
\our  Notion  of  there  beii-ig  a  certain  "  Medium  between  an  obfli- 
nate  relentlefs  Sinner,  and  one  that  is  throughly  regenerate^  or  intirely 
devoted  to  God,"  and  feems  to  be  the  Ground  of  your  infilling  that 
the  Sinner  be  brought  to  "  Jirive  in  earnejl,  that  he  may  be  quali- 
fiedfor  God's  Help."— -And  now  being  fix'd  m  this  Opinion,  that  there" 
is  a  Meetnefs  in  this  State  of  a  Sinner  to  receive  Help  (i.  e.  efficaci- 
cus  Aid,  or  fpecial  Grace)  fom  God,  thefe  Gentlemen  bringing  this 
Opinion  with  them  to  the  facred  Text,  they  read  here  that  To  every 
me  that  hath,  /hall  be  given,  and  thence  conclude  a  Promife  from  God 
rnade  to  the  flriving  Sinner,  though  not  yet  thorowly  devoted  to  God 
in  Jefus  Chriit. 

But,  good  Sir,  by  whofe  Authority  do  they  make  this  Concluflon  ? 
Does  It  How  from  divine  Promifes  ?  Chrift  indeed  in  the  Parable 
hath  faid.  Unto  him  that  hath,  fljall  be  given  :  But  hath  he  any  where 
iaid,  that  thcjhiving  (but  unconverted)  Sinner  is  this  Man  that  h^'h  ? 
Or,  Is  there  in  all  this  Parable  one  Word,  or  Syllable,  about  the 
Jtriving  Sinner,  or  of  the  BeRowment  of  convening  Grace  ?  Surely 
nothing  like  ir.  No,  I'his  is  the  preconceiv'd  human  Opinion  ({ 
Jpake  of)  whjcn  every  cne  brings  with  him  to  the  divine  Text,  wha 
inters  a  Prmife  to  Sinners  from  this  Parable.     And  it  is  injpollibie 

■      ■  ■    ■      c^ 


2S  Special   Grace   «of  promifed 

to  argue  any  Thing,  for  their  Opinion,  conclufively  from  the  Para- 
ble k  fei:. 

You  go  on  to  fay,  '^  Jnd  I  amtindsr  an  invincible  NeccJJity  of  un- 
derftanding  Matth.  7.  7.  and  11.  28.  Luke  ii.  13.  &c.  as  belorg- 
jng  to  fuch  as  he.''  Thefe  Promifes,  you  hold,  do  belong  to  the 
Unregenerate,  though  under  the  Dominion  and  Guilt  of  Sin,  yetfeek- 
ing,  and  Jiriving,  as  aforefaid.  But  how  do  you  prove  this  ?  Why 
firftby  ihe  NeceJJity  you  find  your  Jelf  under  thus  to  iinderftand  them  : 
You  plead,  that  you  are  necejjttated  fo  to  underfland  them,  and  that 
you  cannot  for  your  Life  help  thus  interpreting  them,  &c.  As  if  you 
meant  to  carry  the  Argument  intirely  by  Dint  of  this  Plea  from  a 
felt  NeceJJity  upon  you. ----But  fince  it  is  allowed,  on  all  Hands,  that 
wrong  Conceptions  through  Prejudice,  or  Want  of  a  clear  Under- 
ftanding  of  the  Cafe,  may  be  the  Ground  of  fuch  an  apprehended 
NeceJJity,  as  well  as  the  Evidence  of  Truth,  you  will  doubtlefs  allow 
this  Confideration  to  be  abfolutely  fet  afide,  in  the  prefent  Debate, 
as  containing  nothing  conclufive  or  argumentative  in  the  Cafe  be- 
fore us. 

You  proceed,  and  fay,-—"  Can  any  one  be  fo  ahfurd  as  to  interpret 
thefe  Promifes  thus  ?  Ton  that  have  akeady  received  the  fpecial  Grace  of 
God,  Ask,  and  ve  (liall  receive  :---  Ton  that  have  already  found  Mercy, 
Seek,and  ye  fiiall  find  :--Tou  to  -j^bom  the  Gate  of  Mercy  is  already  opened^ 
and  are  already  got  ivlthin  it.  Knock,  and  it  fhall  be  opened  :-—  Tou 
'ivho  have  already  got  Rejl,  Come  to  m,e,  and  I  will  give  you  Reft, 
'^c.—-  Is  not  this  (fay  you)  making  perfed;  Nonfenfe  of  the  precious 
Promifes  of  God  !  To  me  'it  feems  nothing  can  be  more  fo.  And  yet  this 
mujt  be  -your  own  Interpretation  (fav  you  to  the  Rev.  Juthor)  if  you 
deny  their  being  made,  even  to  the  Unregenerate  :"  i.  e.  to  fuch  of  them 
as  have  been  defcribed.  ,   „   ,  i   ^1  r    j 

The  Argument  ufed  here  is  what  is  called  Reduftio  ad  Abjurdum  : 
And  its  whole  Force  lies  in  this,  That  thefe  Promifes  cannot  be  other- 
wife  interpreted,  than  as  belonging  to  the  Unregenerate,  whiltfuch, 
but  by  refolving  their  Meaning  into  perfeci  Nonfevfe.  Now,  it  this 
can  be  proved,  I  own,  the  Argument  mud  be  yielded  :  l^or,  to  be 
fure,  we  muft  not  make  perfeB  Nonfenfe  of  the  holy  Scriptures.  --;- 
But  where  is  the  Proof?  You,  Sir,  indeed  have  faid  it ;  and  ;hat  s 
all  '-To  refute  this  your  Notion  of  the  Abfurdity  of  underflanding 
xht^Q  Promifes  otherwife,  than  as  belonging  to  the  Unregenerate,  whiilt 
fuch,  it  may  fuffice  to  obferve,  that  it  is  intirely  grounded  on  one 
or  other,  or  all  of  the  following  falfe  Hypothefes  :  viz. 

I.  That  thefe  conditional  Promifes  were  not  fpoken,  or  meant,  to 
Believers,  but  to  others  exclufivs  of  them.  ^^^^ 


to  any  Endeavours  of  the  Unregenerate.  29 

2,  That  the  Matter  of  Petition  and  'Inquiry  here,  or  what  is  here 
enjoined  to  be  asked  and  fought,  is  limited  to  the  firfl  Grace  of  fav- 
ing  Converfion,  and  extends  not  to  After- Grace,  in  progrejjtve  San6li- 
fication. 

3.  That  the  asking,  feeking,  knocking,  and  coming  to  Chrifl:,  unto 
which  the  Fromife  is  here  annexed,  are  to  be  conceived  as  Doings 
that  are  fhort  of  that  Faith,  which  implies  a  thorow  Converfion  to 
God  in  Chrift. 

Thefe,  I  think,  muft  be  the  Suppoficions,  on  which  your  Notion. 
of  the  Abfirdity  of  our  Interpretation  is  intirely  grounded  :  Which 
being  fairly  examined,  and  removed  by  the  Force  of  Truth,  thefe 
Promifes  inay  be  interpreted  as  we  underftand  them,  without  any 
the  leafl  Shadow  of  Jbfurdity,  and  be  fure,  without  any  Danger  of 
their  being  made  perfeh  Nonfenje.     And  now, 

I.  That  thefe  Things  are  here  fuppofed,  and  made  the  intire  Ground 
of  that  Abfurdity,  pretended  to  be  in  underftanding  thofe  Promifes 
otherwife  than  as  belonging  to  the  Unregenerate,  whilfl:  fuch,  is  evi- 
dent from  this  Confideration,  That  the  removing  of  thefe  Suppofitions- 
is  the  removing  of  all  Appearances  of  Jbfurdity,  and  leaves  not  any 
the  leafl  Shadow  of  it  in  the  Cafe.  For  if  thefe  Promifes  are  fpoken 
and  meant  to  Believers,  and  the  Matter  of  the  Petition  here  enjf^in- 
ed,  is  not  limited  to  the  firfl  Grace  of  Converfion,  exclufive  of  After- 
Grace  in  Order  to  progrefllve  San6lificacion,  where  is  the  Abfiirdity 
you  fpeak  of,  even  according  to  your  own  Reading  of  the  Text? 
*^  Ton  that  have  already  received  the  fpecial  Grace  of  God,  that  are  true 
Believers,  Heirs  of  the  Promifes,  that  have  Grace  and  Glory  and  e- 
very  good  Thing  laid  up  in  them.  Ask,  and  ye  fjjall  receive  ;•■-  you 
ixiho  have  already  found  Mercy y  Seek  and  ye  fJjall  find,  i.  e.  further 
Mercy,  or  more  Grace.  Is  it  abfurd,  that  he  which  hath  Life,  fiiould 
have  it  more  abundantly  1  Is  it  at  all  abfurd,  that  the  Believer,  who 
has  received  the  firjt  Grace,  fliould  be  enjoined  to  ask,  feek,  and 
knock  at  the  Door  of  Mercy,  for  further  Supplies  ?  Or,  is  it  abfurd^ 
that  he  fliould  be  promifed  Succefs  in  fo  doing  ?  So,  if  the  Asking, 
to  which  the  Promife  is  here  annexed,  be  asking  in  Faith,  where  is 
the  Abfurdity  of  underftanding  thefe  Promifes  otber-wife  than  as  be- 
Icnging  to  the  Unregenerate,  continuing  fuch?  Nay,  howis  itpollible 
that  they  fliould  belong  to  them  at  all,  while  continuing  in  their 
Unbelief,  and  not  through  Chrifl  having  Accefs  by  the  Spirit  unto  the  Fa- 
ther ?---  Thus  it  is  fully  evident,  here,  that  the  whole  Pretence  of 
Abfurdity,  in  underflanding  thefe  Promifes  otherwife  than  as  belong- 
ing to  the  Unregenerate,  depends  intirely  on  the  Truth  of  this,  and 
the  other  Suppofuions ;  Which  if  found  noi  true,  the  Objection  you 

make 


30  SpecialGrace  not  promifed 

make,  vaniilies  intirely.     So  that  what  remains  for  me  to  do  here, 
is, 

2 .  To  evince  the  utter  Falfenefs  of  each  of  thefe  Suppofuions.- — 
And, 

1.  The  Suppofuion,  that  thefe  Promifes  were  not  fpoken  and 
meant  to  Believers,  but  to  others  exdujive  of  them,  is  evidently  a 
M'ljiake,  For  it  is  certain,  that  ChrifVs  Difcipks  were  prefenc  at  the 
preaching  of  this  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  Chap.  5.  i.  And  likewife 
that  what  is  faid  by  our  Saviour  in  Luk.  11.  13.  was  faid  diredlly  to 
his  Difcipks^  on  their  Requefl  that  he  would  teacb  them  to  pray,  f.  i. 
Certain  it  is  therefore,  that  thefe  Promifes  were  fpoken  and  meant 
to  Believers,  and  not  to  others  exdujive  of  them  ;  unlefs  ic  be  fup- 
pofed  here,  that  Chrift's  Difcipks  were  not  Believers  ;  what  no  one, 
I  prefume,  will  pretend.  Nay,  which  is  more,  to  make  good  this 
Suppofuion,  it  mud  be  proved,  that  there  was  not  one  of  the  whole 
Company  prefent  a  Believer. 

2.  The  Suppofition,  that  the  Matter  of  the  Petition  and  Inqui- 
ry here,  or  what  is  here  enjoined  to  be  asked  and  fought,  is  limited 
to  the  firft  Grace  of  Con'serfion,  exclufive  of  confequent  Grace  in 
^rc^ip/Z^feSandlification,  is  alfo  evidently  falfe.  For  llnce  thefe  Du- 
ties were  enjoined  upon  the  Difdples  themfelves,  with  Promifes  of 
Succefs,  and  not  on  others  exclufive  of  them,  it  mull  therefore  be 
impoffible,  that  the  Matter  of  Petition  and  Inquiry  enjoined  them 
ihould  be  limited  to  the  firft  Grace,  becaufe  this  chey  had  already  re- 
ceived ;  and  therefore  to  enjoin  them  to  ask  and  feek  that,  would 
be  an  Inconflftency  and  Abfurdity  indeed. ---The  Suppofition, 

3.  That  the  asking,  feeking,  &c.  to  which  Succefs  is  here  promifed^ 
are  Doings  fhort  of  that  Faith,  which  implies  an  intire  Devotednefs 
to  God  in  Chrift,  is  alfo  evidently  falfe.  For,  if  the  asking  and  feek- 
ing, &c.  to  which  the  Promife  here  is  annex'd,  be  any  Doings  fmrt 
of  unfeigned  Faith,  then  we  are  to  underfland  our  Saviour  here  to  en- 
join thefe  Duties  without  regarding  their  neceflary  Principle,  which 
is  Faith.  The  Injunction  ought  in  Reafon  to  be  interpreted  in  the 
fame  Latitude  as  the  Promife  that  is  annexed.  And  can  it  once  be 
imagined,  that  our  bleifed  Saviour  would  enjoin  his  Difciples  to  ask, 
feek,  and  knock  by  Prayer,  without  Faith  unfdgned  ?  Would  not  this 
be  to  teach  them  to  approach  unto  God  oiherwife  than  ihrough  a 
Mediator  ;  contrary  to  the  grand  Dcfign  oUhe  Grfpd?  Which  isftiled 
Rom.  16.  26.  The  Revelation  of  the  Myfiery  made  knoim  to  all  Nations 
for  the  Obedience  of  Faith.  Would  it  not  to  be  to  enjoin  what  could 
by  no  Means  be  pleafing  or  acceptable  to  God  ?  Since  (Heb.  11.  6.) 
Without  Faith  it  is  impofRbh  to  pleak  God.     Do  not  the  Scriptures 

^  ^  enjoin 


10  any  Endeavours  of  the  U  nr  e  g  e  n  e  r  a  t  e.  3  r 

enjoin  us  (Col.  3.  17)  to  do  all  in  the  Name  of  the  Lord  Jcftis  Chrifl  ? 
And  can  this  be  done  without  Faith  ?    Yea,    do  not  the  Scriptures 
require  the  Exercife  0^  Faith ^  in  every  Inflance,  to  accompany  Pray- 
er y   Seeing  they  declare  it  the  Will  of  God  (i  Tim.  2.  8-)  That 
Menpray  every  whcre,lf ting  tip  holy  Hands,  without  f^rath  and  Doubting. 
And  can  Prayer  be  performed  with  holyHands  lifted  up,  where  that  Faith 
is  wanting,  which  purifieth  the  Heart  and  Hands  ?    But  certainly,  it 
cannot  be  done  'xithout  Doubting.     Does  not  the  Apoftle  James  ex- 
prefly  caution  all  againfl  thisMiftake,  of  placing  Dependance  on  the 
Succefs  of  Prayer  deditute  of  Faith  ?   Jam.  i.  5,  6,  7.  If  any  Man 
lack  JViJdom,  let  him  ask  of  God.,  that  giveth  to  all  Men  liberally,  and  up- 
braideth  not ;  and  it  fjall  be  given  him.     But  let  him  askin  Faith,  nothing 
'voavering  :  for  he  that  wavereth,  is  like  a  Wave  of  the  Sea,  driven  mtb 
the  TVind,  and  tojjed.     For  let  not  that  Man  think  that  he  fhall  receivt 
any  Thing  rf  the  Lord.  q.  d.  Taking  into  Confideration  the  Extent  of 
the  New-Covenant,  the  whole  Defign  of  God's   Mercy  to  fallen 
Mankind  through  a  Mediator,   and  the  unbounded  Goodnefs  of  God's 
Nature,  whereby,  in  this  New-Covenant-Way,  he  deals  out  to  all 
Men  moft  liberally,  without  upbraiding  any  ;  yet  neverthelefs,  upon 
the  largefl  View  of  thefe  Things,  let  no  Man  fall  into  this  Miflake, 
that  a  faithlefs  Prayer  will  take  hold  of  God,  or  obtain  any  Mercy 
at  all,  at  his  Hand. ---From  all  which,  and  much  more  that  might  be 
cfFered,  were  it  needful,  it  is  inconteftibly  evident,  that  the  lad  of 
thefe  Suppofitions,  as  well  as  the  two  former,  is  intirely  aMiftakc. 

Nor  is  it  lefs  evident,  that  the  Coming  to  Chrifl^  to  which  a 
Promife  of  Refl  (lands  annexed  (Matth.  11.  28.)  is  plainly  meant 
of  coming  by  Faith  ;  and  it  were  eafy  to  (hew,  it  is  generally  fo' 
underftood  by  Divines,  of  every  Denomination.  But  if  an  Appeal 
be  had  here  from  the  Authority  of  Men  to  the  Authority  of  God, 
and  according  to  that  mofl  excellent  Pvule  of  interpreting  Scripture 
by  Scripture,  you  are  difpofed  to  refl:  fatisfied  in  a  Decifion  of  this 
Matter,  by  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrifl  himfelf,  we  then  have  kin  John- 
6.  35.  1  am  the  Bread  of  Life  :  he  that  cometh  to  me,  flmll  never  hun- 
ger ',  and  he  that  believcth  on  me,  /hall  never  thirfi.  Where  it  is  ex- 
ceeding obvious,  that  coming  to  Chrifl,  as  the  Bread  cf  Life,  and  be- 
lieving on  him,  are  ufed  as  Terms  of  the  fame  Import,  and  eqna'  Sig- 
nificancy  :  the  fame  fpiritual  and  everlaflingly  fatisfying  lileffings 
being  promifed  to  each. 

Nov/,  upon  the  whole.  If  it  be  certain,  that  the  Intire  Reafon  you 
have  aflign'd,  why  thefe  Promifes  fliould  be  underfl-ood,  as  belong-' 
ing  to  the  Unregenerate,  whilfl:  fuch,  is  the  ^//i/rf/zVyof  underflanding 
them   otherwife  ;   which  indeed  you  fay,  cannot  be  done  wichouc 

ir.ak- 


32  Special   Gracil  not  prcmifed 

making  perfeu^  Nonjenfe  of  them  ;— -and  if  it  be  alfo  certain,  that 
this  Notion  of  the  Abfurdity  of  underflanding  them  otherwife,  be 
grounded_  wholly  on  certain  Siippofuions  ;  Which  Suppofitions,  no 
Jefs  certainly  are  meer  Miftakes,  and  utterly  ungrounded  :  Then  it 
niuffc,^!  think,  undeniably  follow,  that  the  whole  Reafon  you  have 
airign'd  why  thefe  Promifes  fliould  be  underfhood  as  belonging  to  the 
Unregenerate,    whilfl:  fuch,  is  intirely  removed  and  vacated. 

Having  thus  refcued  thefe  Texts  from  that  unnatural  Force  puc 
upon  them,  by  means  of /^//"i?  Suppofitions,  and  reftored  their  true 
and  genuine  Meaning  ,•  all  that  are  honeftly  minded,  and  have  no 
preconcewd  Scheme  of  their  own  to  ferve  by  ixirefiing  the  Scriptures^ 
will  (I  doubt  not)  be  sble  to  read  thefe  Promifes  as  made  immedi- 
ately to  the  Children  of  God,  to  excite  them  to  be  much  and  ear- 
nefl  in  the  great  Duty  of  Prayer^  from  the  Confideration  of  the 
Certainty  of  Succcfs  to  attend  the  Prayer  of  Faith  ;  the  effectual  fer- 
'Dent  Prayer  of  a  righteous  Man  availing  much.  Though  they  are  im- 
provable alfo  as  an  Excitement  and  Encouragement  to  all  others,  to 
be  concern'd  that  they  may  be  brought  likewife  to  ask,feek,  knock, 
and  come  by  Faith  to  the  Mercy  of  God  through  the  Mediator,  as 
the  only  certain  Means  of  Succefs,  taught  us  in  the  Scriptures  of 
Truth,  by  Divine  Promifes  made  thereto. 

Having,  as  you  fuppofed,  eftablifhed  the  Senfe  of  thefe  Texts  in 
your  own  Favour  ,•  you,  in  the  next  Place,  thus  proceed.  "  For  God's 
fake.  Dear  Sir,  let  us  take  Care  that  we  do  not,  from  a  violent  Attach- 
ment to  any  preconceived  humane  Schemes,  pervert  the  plaineft  and  moft 
obvious  Declarations,  and  Promifes  of  the  G  of  pel.  To  me  it  is  manifejl^ 
that  this  is  what  thofe  on  your  Side  really  do ;  and  that  your  whole  Syjiem, 
where  it  is  peculiar,  is  not  founded  on  the  holy  Scriptures  {taken  in  the 
whole,  and  critically  read  and  confidered)  but  on  the  empty  Cob-webs  of 
Scholallical  Metaphyfics  (vain  Philofophy,  Science  falfly  fo  called) 
together  with  fame  few  obfcure  Texts,  not  rightly  underftood,  for  want 
of  a  critical  Skill  in  the  ancient  Languages,  and  the  Notions  and  Contro- 
'uerfies  of  thofe  Times,  and  for  want  of  an  exad;  Attention  to  the  Scope- 
and  Argument  of  the  f acred  JVriters  ;  In  Confequence  of  which  yon  ma- 
nifejily  torture  the  plaineft  Texts,  to  make  them  fpeak  your  Senfe.,  and 
fo  corrupt  the  Plainnefs  and  Simplicity  of  the  Gofpel,  and  in  Effe^ 
make''  it  a  meer  unintelligible  Riddle." 

Here,  Sir,  being  ftruck  with  the  utmofl  Surprize,  I  mufl  beg  leave 
to  paufe  a  while,  as  not  able  fuddenly  to  refolve  what  is  beft  to 
fay  .' —  Is  this  the  Charity  !  —  This  the  following  after  Peace  and 
Hulinefs  !  —  which  you  foem  fo  earneftly  to  pray  for,  in  yoiir  heXE 
Page.""Is  this  the  melting  of  your  Bowels,  for  them,  ever  whom 

{Page 


to  any  Endeavours  o/fi^UNREGENERAXE.  33 

{Pag.  22.)  youprofefs  to  grieve ,  and  for  whom  {Pag.  i)  you  ex- 
prefs  your  Charity,  as  Serious  Chrijiians,  that  are  not  at  all  fenfible  of 
their  Miflake  !  Was  it  poffible,  Sir,  that  you  fliould  conceive  any 
the  lead  '1  endency,  in  thefe  aftonifliing  Lines  of  yours,  to  win  upon 
their  AlTeftions,  or  to  fet  before  them  any  Matter  of  Convi6lion  ;— - 
unlefs  it  were  of  the  prefent  Temper  of  their  quondam  Friend  to- 
wards them  ? 

Could  you  once  imagine,  Sir,  that  the  Loudnefs  of  your  Cry  a- 
gainfl:  others,  as  being  violently  attached  to  human  Schemes,  perverting 
the  plairfefi  Texts^  building  on  empty  Cobwebs  &c.  would  fecure  you 
from  the  fame  Imputations;  or  prevent  your  being,  in  the  Sequel, 
found  in  the  Number  of  thofe,  againft  whom  you  make  fuch  a  hi- 
deous Outcry  ?  The  dark  Chara6ler,  jou  have  here  drawn,  may 
perhaps  in  the  Subftance  of  it  really  agree  to  one  or  other  of  thefe 
contending  Parties  :  But  then  what  Right  have  you,  'good  Sir,  to  fie 
^udge,  in  your  own  Caufe  ?  Which,  to  make  fure  Work,  you  have 
done  :  and  no  wonder  at  all,  that  you  have  carried  the  Cafe  in 
your  own  Favour.—However,  the  Right  of  Appeal  is  challenged  ; 
and  the  Matter  chearfully  fubmitted  to  the  Judgment  of  impartial 
Readers,  whether  you  have  gained  your  Point,  or  not  :  /.  e.  Whe- 
ther the  Scriptures  you  have  alledged,  with  your  Reafons  enforcing 
them,  compared  with  what  has  now  been  replied,  do  clearly  and 
fully  prove  the  Affirmative  Part  of  the  Quedion  before  us  ;  I  fay, 
clearly  and  fully,'— for  fuch  ought  to  be  the  Proof  in  this  important 
Cafe  ;  fince  the  Opinion  you've  advanced,  affefts  the  very  Conflitu- 
tion  of  the  Neix- Covenant,  and  adds  to  it  an  ejjential  Branch,  that  we 
know  nothing  of. 

The  Covenant  of  Grace  we  acknowledge  ;  the  Tenor  whereof  ii 
plainly  this,  He  that  believetb  on  the  Son  of  God  hath  everlajling  Life, 
and  /hall  never  perifJj.  According  to  this,  God  is  a  Covenant-God 
and  Father  to  Believers.  But  a  Covenant-Obligation,  whereby  God  is 
bound  to  give  his  fpecial  efficacious  Grace,  and  Co  ImSpirit,  and  his  Chrifl, 
to  the  Unregencrate,  by  Virtue  of  his  own  Promfe,  made  to  any  Do- 
ings, Seekings,  Strivings  of  theirs,  fliort  of  that  Kiitb^  by  which  the 
Ju/t  do  live,  is  what  iy^  don't  know  any  Thing  of,  neither  do  the 
Scriptures  of  Truth,  nor  indeed  any  publick  Confcffion  of  Faith  in  the 
Proteftant  World,  that  we  are  acquainted  with,  nor  even  the  Arti- 
cles and  Homilies  of  your  own  Church  of  England.  And  therefore 
until  this  Point,  which  you  fo  contend  for,  be  fettled,  by  clear  and 
full  Evidence  from  Divine  Teftimony,  we  mufl:  not,  we  dare  not,  ad- 
mit of  it,  left  we  be  found  guilty  of  adding  to  the-JVordof  God. 
But  what  ismoft  of  all  furprizing  here,  is,  that  you  iliould  not  on^y 

£  fo 


34  b FECIAL  {j R AC 2  not  promijed 

Co  peremptorily  decide  the  Cafe  in  your  ov/n  Favour,  but  that  yoa 
lliould  in  fo  confident  a  Manner  accufe  and  condemn  all  on  the  other 
Side,  as  *^  perverting  the  plainejl  Declarations  of  the  Go/pel^--- founding 
their  whole  Syflem,  fo  far  as  it  is  peculiar  (which  at  leafl  muQ:  in  your 
Senfe,  take  in  this  of  denying  Promifes  of  fpecial  Grace  to  any  Do- 
ings of  the  Unregenerate)  on  the  empty  Cobwebs  of  fcboJaflical  Meta- 
phyjicks,  vain  Fhilofophy,  Science  faffly  fo  called, — Scripture  not  rightly 
underflood,  for  Want  of  critical  Skill  in  the  antient  Languages,  and  exaii 
Attention  to  the  Scope  and  Argument  of  the  facred  IVriters  ;  in  Confe- 
qiience  of  which  (fay  yoit  to  the  Rev.  Author  and  thofe  of  his  Mind) 
you  manifeftly  torture  the  plainefi  Texts  to  make  them  f peak  your  Senfe y 
and  corrupt  the  Simplicity  of  the  Gofpel,  and  make  it  in  p.ffeSt  a  meer  unin- 
telligible Riddle." 

Now,  Sir,  I  pray  tell  me,  was  this  truly  the  Cafe  with  all  thofe 
famous  Bipjops,  Do.^srs,  and  Clergy  of  the  Church  of  England,  who 
have  given  their  Suffrages  full  in  Favour  of  the  Negative  Side  of  the 
Queftion  ?  Or  was  this  indeed  the  Cafe  with  the  whole  Body  of  the 
Clergy  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  from  t!ie  firfl;  Dawn  of  the  Re- 
formation? And  was  this  the  Cafe  with  all  thofe  other  eminentDivines 
at  home  and  abroad,  living  and  dead,  that  might  be  menuon- 
ed,  as  favouring  the  Negative  in  the  prefent  Qiieftion  ?  In  fober 
Earnefl;,  tell  me,  Sir,  Do  all  thefe  pervert  the  mojt  obvious  Promifes  of 
the  Cofpol,  from  a  violent  Attachment  to  human  Schemes  ?  Do  all  thefe 
godly,  learned  IMen  torture  the  plainefi  Texts,  to  make  them  fpeak  their 
Senfe  ?  Do  they  all,  in  this  Point  at  leafi,  build  upon  the  empty  Cobwebs 
of  Scholafiick  Metaphyficks,  and  vain  Pbikfophy  ?  Have  none  of  them 
ever  been  Mafters  of  a  fufficient  critical  Skill  in  the  ancient  Languages? 
&c.  &c. 

I  might  here  confront  your  Opinion  with  the  contrary  Judgment 
of  many  of  the  greaiefk  Writers  in  your  own  Church  :  from  whom 
I  might  eafily  collect  enough  to  fill  up  a  confiderable  Volume.  But  I 
Ihall  at  prefent  give  you  only  aQuotation  from  thatrenowned  Prelate, 
pious  and  learned  Bifliop  Hopkins,on  the  Covenant  (P.  152)  where  having 
faid  feveralThings  on  this  Head,  he  fums  up  the  Matter  thus.  "  In  brief, 
«'  the  abfohite  Covenant  promifeth  the  firft  Grace  of  Converfion  toGod; 
<«  the  Conditional  promifeth  Life,  if  we  be  converted.  The  Conditional 
((  promifeth  Life,  if  we  believe  :  The  Abfolute  promifeth  Faith, 
«'  whereby  we  may  believe  to  the  faving  of  our  Souls  ;  and  there- 
"  fore  it  is  called  an  abfolute  Covemm,  becaufe  the  firfi^  Grace  of  Con- 
*«  verfion  to  God  cannot  be  given  upon  Conditions.— -It  is  indeed  com- 
«'  monly  wrought  in  Men  by  the  right  Ufe  of  Means,  as  hearing 
«  the  Word,  Meditation,  Prayer,  &c.  but  thefe  Means  are  not  Co?> 

ditwns 


?(?  flwy  Endeavours  ^/ ^^?  Unregenerati^.  35 

"  ditions  of  Grace,  becaufe  we  have  found  that  in  fome  InflaRces 
**  God  haih  not  limited  himfelf  to  them.----  And  indeed^  what  is 
*^  there  that  can  in  Reafon  be  fuppofed  a  Condition  of  God's  beftow- 
<^'  ing  the  Gift  of  the  fir[i  Grace  upon  us  ?  Either  it  rauft  be  fome 
"  Atl  of  Grace,  or  of  meer  Nature.  Not  of  Grace,  for  then  the  firjl 
"  Grace  would  be  already  given  :  Nor  of  Nature,  for  then  Grace 
*'  would  be  given  according  to  Works,  which  is  the  Sum  and  Up[hot 
*'  of  Pelagianism." 

Now,  Sir,  for  my  own  Part,  though  I  am  far  from  concluding,  that 
ei^ery  one,  who  is  in  this  Error,  is  a  Pelagian  :  Becaufe  this  may  be 
the  Cafe  with  fome,  who  have,  ere  they  were  aware,  been  induced, 
by  what  they  have  heard  plaufibly  faid  on  this  Point,  to  entertain  a 
favourable  Thought  of  it  :  Yet  I  am  fully  perfuaded,  that  this  learn- 
ed Bishop  throughly  underjtood  what  he  here  fays,  and  that  when  ever 
Truth  in  this  Point  is  fearched  to  the  Bottom,  the  affirmative  Part  of 
the  Qtieflion  will  be  found  the  pernicious  Fruit  of  Error,  growing 
on  the  Pelagian  Root  of  denying  the  Doftrine  of  Original  Sin,  as  held 
forth  in  our  publick  Confeffwns  of  Faith,  and  in  the  Articles  and  Homilies 
of  the  Church  of  England  :---And  that,  referving  Credit  to  the  Doc- 
trine of  Original  Sin,  it  will  be  found  a  much  harder  Task  to  recon- 
cile with  the  Divine  Attributes  this  unaccountable  Notion  of  a  Grant: 
in  the  Gofpel,  of  New  Covenant -Bleffings,  on  Condition  of  Old  Cove- 
nant-fVorks,  i,  e.  certain  Doings  of  the  Unregenerate,  whilfl;  fuch, 
than  to  reconcile  with  the  Divine  Attributes,  the  Notion  of  God's 
permiting  fallen  Mankind  to  come  into  the  World  in  fuch  a  corrupt 
and  finful  State,  as  not  to  have  it  fecured  in  all  Refpe£ls  in  their 
Power  (as  well  Morally,  i.  e.  notwithftanding  any  inherent  Viciouf- 
nefs  or  Depravity,  as  naturally)  to  be  everlaftingly  happy.  And 
here,  Sir,  by  the  Way,  fince  you  have  been  ready  to  impute  it  to 
Prejudice,  when  any  among  your  DiJJenting  Brethren  (zs  you  call  them) 
have  doubted  of  your  Orthodoxy  in  the  grand  Point  of  Original  Sin, 
1  would  obferve  that  you  have  now  (on  what  is  recited  above)  an 
advantage  of  confidering  the  Matter  more  free  from  Prejudice  ;  fince 
it  is  not  the  doubtful  Tho't,  but  firm  perfuafion  of  one  of  your  own 
Bijloops,  that  the  Error,  which  you  plead  for  is  the  very  Sum  and  Up- 
fhot  of  Pelagianifm. 

What  now  remains  ofyour  Letter,  is  chiefly  a  repeating  and  urging 
of  ihzit  invincible  Neceffity,  which  you  fay  you  are  under,  of  under- 
flanding  thefe  Promifes  as  belonging  to  tiie  unregenerate,  i.  e.  whilft 
fuch..  <'  I  cannot  for  my  Life  (fay  you)  help  interpreting  thefe,  and  the 
like  Proviifes  in  this  plain,  eafy  and  obvious  Manner  :  Ton  that  have  not 
yet  received  the  Grace  of  God,  for  the  thorow  Renovation  of  your 

Souls, 


36  Special  Grace  not  promifed 

Souls,  Ask  andye  fhall  receive."  Again  you  hy^—'Thus  I  am  necef- 
Jitated,-'SLnd--Thus  I  am  obliged—*^  Which  concludes  the  Argumen- 
tative Part  of  your  Letter,  Pag.  26,  27. 

Here  I  (hall  only  appeal  to  the  impartial  Reader,  Whether  it  be 
not  abundantly  evident,  from  what  has  been  argued  and  remark'da- 
bove,  that  no  fuch  invincible  NeceJJtty,  or  Obligation,  as  you  plead, 
arifeth  from  any  thing  either  exprefled  or  implied  jin  thofe  facred 
Texts.  To  me  it  is  evident,  that  whenever  this  Matter  is  thorow- 
ly  examin'd,  it  will  be  found,  that  the  Necefjitatim  or  Obligation  up- 
on you,  refults  not  in  the  leafl  from  the  genuine  Senfe  or  true  Force 
of  thefe  Scriptures y  as  unavoidably  to  be  interpreted,  as  including  this 
Point  of  Doftrine,  which  you  plead  to  be  held  forth  in  them  :  but 
I  doubt,  you  find  and  feel,  in  the  prefent  Debate,  a  preffing  Necef- 
fity  upon  you,  in  Order  to  fupport  your  Scheme,  a  NeceJJity  (I  fay) 
of  alledging  fome  plaufible  Texts  from  the  Book  of  God,  to  counte- 
nance your  Notion  of  God's  being  obliged  to  the  Beftowment  of  con- 
verting Grace,  by  virtue  of  his  own  Promife  made  to  the  Doings  of 
the  Unregenerate,  whilft  continuing  fuch. 

There  being  an  infeparable  Connection  between  the  Opinion  of  God's 
being  obliged,  by  Covenant,  as  above,  and  what  you  feem  to  make  a 
grand  Foundation-Principle  in  your  Scheme,  (pag.  6.)  *^  That  it  is 
inconfifient  with  the  Attributes  of  God  to  give  Being  to  any  of  his  In- 
telligent Creatures  (the  Corruption  of  the  F<3//notwithfl:anding)  without 
futting  them  into  a  Condition,  that  {every  Thing  being  confidered,  in  the 
whole  of  their  Nature  and  Duration)  would  render  Being  defirable  to  them ;" 
No  Wonder  then,  that  you  are  fo  earneflly  intent  upon  finding  cue 
fome  Texts  of  Scripture  interpretable  in  Favour  of  your  Opinion  a- 
bout  a  Promife  to  the  Unregencrate. 

For  if,  as  you  fay,  it  be  thus  inconfifient  with  the  Attributes  of  God, 
to  give  Being  to  any  of  the  Offspring  of  fallen  Adam,  without  put- 
ting them  into  this  defirable  State  of  Being,  above  defcribed,  then  it 
mufl  be  alfo  inconfifient  with  God's  Attributes,  to  give  them  any  Being 
at  all,  without  fecuring  it  in  their  Power,  in  all  Refpefts  (as  well 
Morally,  as  Naturally)  to  be,  in  fome  Degree  at  \Q2i{):,  finally  happy :  un- 
iefs  you  fhould  fuppofe,  that  that  State  of  Being  is  defirable,  that  is 
deftitute  of  fufficient  Power  to  be  in  any  Degree  finally  happy;  which 
doubtlefs  you  will  be  far  from  allowing.-—  And  fince  you  readily  ac- 
knowledge (pag.  24.)  that  <'  the  Sinner  cannot,  of  himfelf  [even  under 
all  the  external  Advantages  of  the  Gofpel']  truly  repent  and  turn  to  God, 
without  his  Help ',  i.  e.  Divine  efficacious  Aid,  or  fpecial  Grace  ;  and 
fo  confequently  without  this,  has  not  fufficient  Power  to  be  in  any 
Degree  finally  happy  :    Is  it  not  a  clear  Cafe,  that  unlefs  you  can 


to  any  Endeavours  of  the  Unregenerate,  37 

weld  this  Link  of  your  Theological  Chain,  and  faften  it  into  the  o- 
thtr,  by  proving  from  the  Word  of  God,  that  He  has  actually  pro- 
miful  Special  Grace,  or  (as  you  call  it)  Efficacious  Aid,  to  the  Unrege- 
nerate,  on  Condition  of  fome  Doings  of  theirs,  wbilfi  fitch,  your  Chain 
muft  fail  you,  and  fo  your  Superftru&ure  smd  Foundation  nwidnQCQ^^^nly 
fink  together  1 

Hence,  No  Wonder,  you  have  beflirM  your  felf  fo  vigoroufly, 
in  fiicb  a  Seafon,  when  the  Power  of  Sovereign  Grace  hath  been  dif- 
play'd,  in  a  Manner  thacis  truly  admirable,  for  Conviction, unto  great 
Numbers  in  one  Place  and  another,  of  this  great  Goipel-Truth,  by- 
happy  Experience  of  a  Work  of  Grace  (hopefully)  wrought  in  their 
Hearts  ;  and  efpecially  fmce,  by  long  Obfervation  and  Experience 
it  is  found,  that  according  as  the  fVork  of  God's  Grace  in  the  faving 
Converfion  of  Sinners  fenjibly  goes  on  among  a  People,  this  Error,  or 
miftaken  Opinion  of  God's  being  by  Covenant  obliged  to  difpenfe 
his  fpecial  renewing  Grace,  on  the  Doings  of  Unregenerate  Sinners, 
whillt  fuch,  fenfibly  goes  down  among  them.— So  that  the  Scheme  you 
defend,  has  not  only  been  in  imminent  Danger,  in  the  late  remark" 
able  Seafon  of  Grace  ;  but  has  really  fallen  in  the  Hearts  of  very 
many,  who,  being  (hopefully)  turned  from  Darknefs  to  Light,  and  from 
the  Power  of  Satan  unto  God,  have  of  their  own  Accord  confefled  their 
full  ConviSlion  in  this  Point,  and  frequently  bemoaned  their  pafl/^- 
norance  in  fuch  Language  as  this,— -Once  we  thought,  God  befiowed  re- 
newing Grace  on  Sinners^  as  having  promifed  it  to  their  Endeavours  ;  but 
vow  we  know,  it  is  otherwife,  and  are  convinced  by  our  own  Experience, 
agreabk  to  the  Scriptures,  that  when  ever  God  converts  and  faves  any,  it 
is  meerly^  becaufe  fo  it  feemeth  good  in  his  Sight !  0(Jay  they)  how 
fpiritually  blind  we  were  !  for  alas,  what  can  there  be  in  the  Doings  of 
a  wretched^  finful,  all  over  polluted,  guilty  Creature,  out  of  Chriji,that  an 
infinitely  holy  God  foould  oblige  himfelfto  /—-It  was  therefore.  Sir,  but 
reafonable  to  expeft  (confidering  the  View  which  you  have  of  Things) 
that  you  fliould  on  this  Occafion  bring  forth  your  jlrongReafonsj  and 
produce  the  whole  Strength  of  Argument,that  could  be  gathered,froni 
all  that  hath  been  Hiid  on  your  Side  of  theQueftion,  or  that  the  Cafe 
would  poflibly  admit  in  Defence  of  this  Principle  of  yours.  Accord- 
ingly ic  is  obiervable,  that  the  Run  of  your  Letter  is  correfpondenc 
with  what  others  have  faid  before  you  :  and  the  Scriptures  you  quote, 
the  fame  that  have  chiefly  been  infifted  on  by  them  ;  though  to  nic 
indeed  in  the  fame  groundlefs  Manner,  and  very  far  fliort  of  bring- 
ing out  a  Conclufion  in  your  Favour.  But  relying  on  the  Reafons 
already  affigned,  which  I  fubmit  to  the  Impartial,  I  will  difmifs 
the  prefenc  Head,  when  I  have  only  made  one  jfurther  jRemark.— - 

How 


38  Special  Grace  not  pvonvfcd 

How  it  is  pofiible,  that  any  Reafonable  Creature  fliould,  upon  a  due 
and  deliberate  Meditation  on  thofe  Scriptures^  be  able  (from  the 
pure  Force  of  what  is  therein  exprefs'dor  imply'd)  to  appeal  toOm- 
nifcience,  and  fay,  Lord,  according  to  my  beft  Underdanding,  Ihere 
clearly  read  thy  gracious  Promife,  of  the  Beftovvment  of  effehual  con- 
•verting  Grace,  Pxiade  to  certain  Doings  of  the  Unregenerate  whWUfnch  I 
---This,  I  muft  confefs,  is  quite  beyond  all  the  Power  of  Difcerning 
I  am  confcious  of  in  my  felf. 

Thus  1  have  done  with  the  third  Thing  propofed,  and  now  pro- 
ceed to  the  next  and  laft. 

IV.  To  fuggell  and  urge  fome  Confiderations  in  Favour  of  the  Ne- 
gative Side  of  the  Queflion  before  us  ,•  which  will  lead  me  to  illuf- 
irate  and  confirm  the  main  Arguments  advanc'd  by  Mr.  Cooke  in  his 
Sermon. 

Though  the  Negative  necefTarily  (lands  Good,  'till  the  Affirmative 
be  proved  ;  and  (if  true)  needs  no  other  Vindication,  than  this,  viz. 
It  does  not  appear,  or  'tis  not  evident,  from  Divine  Revelation,  that  God, 
is  by  Covenant  obliged,  as  you  hold  :  Yet,  fmce  it  mayn't  be  with- 
out its  Ufe,  I  fliall  touch  on  fome  of  the  many  Confiderations,  that 

offer  themfelves  in  Confirmation  of  the  contrary,  held  by  us,  

And  here, 

It  appears  to  me  reafonable,  and  juft,  to  allow  the  firfl  Place  to 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Cooke's  Arguments  (which  you  have  not  formally  con- 
fidered)  as  they  lie  in  his  Sermon  ;  where,  under  the  Application, 
having  firfl  infer'd,  *'  That  it  is  a  great  Mijtake,  and  of  dangerous 
Confequence,  which  many  carnal  Perfons  under  the  Gofpel  fall  into, 
who  will  perfuade  themfelves,  that  by  their  own  Doings  (though  they 
cannot  properly  7nerit,  yet)  they  are  infured  of  fpiritual  and  faving 
Mercies,  by  Virtue  of  Promifes,  which  God  hath  made  to  them  in  his 
Word  ?"  This  the  Rev.  Author  proceeds  to  enforce  and  illuflrate, 
by  fundry  Arguments.     (Vid.  Serm.  Pag.  i6,  to  22.)     He  argues, 

I.  That  this  Miftake  in  the  Sinner  muft  be  dangerous,  as  it  con- 
tains nothing  lei's  in  it,  than  his  flicking  faft  to  the  firfi  Covenant, 
the  Covenant  of  PVorks  :  and  that  fince,  by  that  Covenant,  Life  was 
fecured  to  Man's  own  Doings,  not  as  ftriftly  meritorious,  but  "  meerly 
<'  by  Virtue  of  God's  Covenant -Promife,  therefore  for  a  poor  Sinner 
*'  to  perfuade  himfelf,  upon  what  he  has  done,  or  can  do,  that  he 
*'  hath,  a  good  Claim  to  converting  and  faving  Mercies,  by  Virtue 
*'  of  the  ^Promifes,  is  nothing  more  or  lefs  than  to  fland,  to  this  Mo- 
..  *^  ment,  on  the  Foot  of  a  Covenant  of  fVorks,  as  really,  in  the  EfTen- 
*'  tials  of  it,  as  ever  Man  in  the  Beginning  did  :  And  the  unhappy 

^'  Creature 


to  any  Endeavours  of  the  U  nr  e  g  e  n  e  r  A  t  e.  3^. 

<^  Creature  is  all  this  while  going  about  to  efiablifjj  a  Righteoufnefs  of 
<^  his  own,  for  the  general  Kind  the  fame  with  That,  required  in  the 

"  fi^'ft  Covenant." The  Author  argues  againft  that  miftaken 

Perfwafion, 

2.  That  it  leaves  Room  for  Boajiing  :  And  this,  he  juftly  obferves, 
"  is  quite  inconfiftent  with  and  contrary  to  the  whole  Tenor  and 
main  Defign  of  the  Go/pel,  which  is  perfe6lly  to  exclude  all  Boaji- 
ing in  and  of  our  fehes,  and  to  lay  the  Crown  of  our  Salvation  on 
the  Head  of  rich,  free,  and  fovereign  Grace  through  Chrifl:  Jefus." 

Omitting  at  prefent  the  three  other-  fubfervient  Confideracions, 
mentioned  by  the  Author  in  his  Sermon,  I  (liall  confine  my  Thoughts 
to  the  two  above-recited  ;  And  confidering  thefe  in  one  complex 
View,  as  they  are  of  fuch  near  Affinity,  and  fo  clofely  conne6]:ed, 
I  fhall  vindicate  them  both  together^  for  Brevity's  Sake.  ;' 

Now,  to  open  the  Way  to  this  Defence,  allow  me  to  make  a  few- 
preliminary  Obfervations.  And  I  fay  in  general.  If  it  can  be  made 
evident,  that  to  hold  certain  Scekings,  Strivings,  or  Doings  whatfo- 
ever  of  the  Unregenerate,  whilft  fuch,  conditional  of  the  Beftowraent 
of  fpecial  converting  Grace,  or  that  to  which  the  Promife  of  fuch  Grace 
is  made,  be  to  countenance  the  fallen  Creature's  going  about  to  efia- 
hiijh  his  own  PJghteouJnefs,  and  to  allow  of  that  Boajiing,  to  which 
the  Gofpel  every  where  exprefly  denies  any  Place  in  the  AfFair  of 
"bringing  us  unto  God  ;  it  will  then  doubtlefs  be  acknowledg'd,  upon 
fuch  Evidence,  that  ihc  Arguments  above  are  folid  and  concluflve.— 
And  the  Truth  of  the  foregoing  Propofition,  may,  I  think,  be  evinc- 
ed by  the  following  Confiderations. 

1.  That  to  fuppofe  fpecial  converting  Grace  enfured  or  fecured  to 
the  Unregenerate,  by  a  Promife  thereof  made  to  any  Doings  of  theirs, 
whilfl:  under  the  Dominion  and  Guilt  of  Sin,  and  eflablifhing  a  Con- 
nexion between  fuch  his  Grace,  and  fuch  their  Doings,  is  to  fuppofe 
God's  a61ing  properly  as  a  moral  Governor  in  this  Alfair,  and  making 
the  Sinner's  pTorks  the  Rule  of  his  Difpenfations,  even  in  point  of 
Regenerating  Grace,  or  effe6tual  Calling.-— And  again, 

2.  This  fuppofes  fome  acceptable  Degree  of  moral  Goodnefs,  in- 
trinfick  Worth,  or  true  Excellency,  in  thefe  Doings  of  the  Unregene- 
rate ;  fomething  in  them  of  vital  and  true  Holinefs,  in  God's  Ac- 
count: and  implies  that  his  Method  offavingus  is  by  IVorks  of  Righ- 
teoufnefs, which  we  have  done,  and  not  meerly  according  to  his  Mercy, 
or  fovereign  Grace. -— Becaufe,  if  there  were  not  fome  acceptable 
Meafure  of  moral  ReElitude  and  true  Goodnefs,  or  nothing  that  is  truly 
vital,  fpiritual  and  holy,  in  fuch  their  Doings,  it  feems  not  reconcila- 
ble with  the  moral  Perfe^iions  of  God,  and  therefore  impoflible  in 

the 


4  o  S  p  E  c  I A  L  G  R  A  c  E  nof  promifed 

the  Nature  of  Things,  that  he  fliould  eflablifli  a  Rule,  rerpe6lfng 
thefe  Doings  of  theirs  as  the  Condition  of  his  Promife,  according  to 
which,  as  a  moral  Governor,  he  condufis  himfelf  in  the  Difpenfation 
of  his  firjl  fpecial  Grace  to  Sinners. ----And  now, 

3.  To  affert,  that  there  is  any  the  lead  true  Vitality,  Spirituality, 
QT  moral  Reffl,itude  before  God,  in  the  heO:  Doings  of  the  Unregenerate, 
even  of  Sinners  in  your  middle  Condition ^i.  e,  ''  Such  as  are  re  illy 
felicitous  for  Salvation,  but  not  yet  throughly  converted  from  Sin 
to  God,"  and  accordingly  to  confide  in  and  plead  any  fach  Doings 
as  intitling  (though  by  virtue  of  the  Promifes  only)  to  fpecial  Grace, 
—.this  it  felf  is  that  very  ^o^j?/«^,  which  by  the  whole  Tenor  of 
the  Chriflian  Revelation  is  excluded  out  of  the  Bufinefs  of  our  feek' 
ing  to  be  jujtifyd  by  Chrijl,  and  coming  to  God  by  him  for  Salvation.-— 
And  hence  it  inevitably  follows, 

4.  That  to  teach  for  Doflrine,  that  any  the  befl  Endeavours  and 
highefl  Improvements  of  Sinners  Unregenerate,  or  in  your  Senfe  of  the 
Word,  fuch  as  are  *'  not  yet  intirely  devoted  to  God,"  are  the  reveal'd 
federal  Condition  of  promifed  converting  Grace,  is  in  true  Conftruc- 
tion  nothing  lefs  than  to  introduce  into  the  Scheme  of  Salvation  that 
very  Boajling,  which  the  Gofpel  moft  exprefly  /huts  out,  and  to  pa- 
tron ife  that  going  about  to  ejiablifh  our  own  Righteoufnefs,  which  is 
inconfiftent  with  a  due  SuhmiJJion  to  the  Righteoufnefs  that  is  of  God 
hy  Faith. — This  Conclufion  will  neceflarily  arife  out  of  the  Premi- 
fes,-  which,  as  I  apprehend,  admit  of  the  eafiefl  and  mofl  copious 
Proofs,  from  Revelation  and  Reafon. 

As  to  the  Thing  fuppofed  in  the  firfl  Propofition,  it  appears  to 
me  one]  of  the  leading  Principles  in  the  Arminian  Scheme,^  and  is 
agreable  (Sir)  to  your  profefs'd  Opinion,ThatGod  difpenfeshisyp^c/a/ 
Grace,  or  in  your  Senfe  of  the  Words,  his  efficacious  Aid,  not  as  an 
abfolute  Proprietor  and  fovereign  Benefadtor,  but  as  a  moral  Go- 
verfior,  and  righteous  Judge  of  the  Behaviour  and  Improvements  of 
his  Creatures. 

And  as  to  the  Jecond  Propofition,  this  is  flriaiy  demonftrable  from 
the  firfl  :  fince  to  fuppofe  the  Behaviour  and  Improvements  of 
the  Creature  to  be  the  Rule,  which  God  refpefts,  as  a  moral  Gover- 
nor and  righteous  Judge,  in  the  Difpenfation  of  his  fpecial  efficacious 
Grace,and  yet  at'the  fame  time  to  fuppofe  the  faidBehayiour  and  Im- 
provem.ents  quite  devoid  of  all  true  moral  Goodnefs  or  vital  H»hnefs  in 
the  fighi  of  God,  would  be  nothing  lefs  than  to  make  two  incompa- 
tthle  Suppofuions,  and  to  run  yourfelf  into  a  flat  Contradi^ion.         ^ 

So  thai  the  only  Article  in  the  Premifes,  that  demands  Proof,  m 
''  Order 


to  any  Endeavours  of  the  unregenerate.  41 

Order  to  bring  out  the  Concliifion,  and  eflablifli  the  Argument  ia 
hand,  is  the  third,-"d.5  above.  And  this  again  is  tooev'denr,  to  need 
any  elaborate  Confirmation  of  it.  For  the  Sinner'3  conceiving  fo 
highly  of  his  own  Doings,  or  any  pofTible  Strivings,  Seekings,  or  Comiuffs 
to  Chrijl,  which  he  is  cipabie  of  in  his  unregenerate  Condieion,  and 
while  (according  to  you)  not  yet  thorcugbly  converted,  as  to  imagine 
fome  true  Virtue,  fome  proper  Righteoufnefs,  or  moral  Reftitude  in 
fuch  his  Performances  and  Endeavours,  and  accordingly  to  imagine 
a  Right  to  the  Bleffing  0^  fpecial  Grace,  or  Divine  efficacious  Aid, 
pctfs'd  over  to  him  by  Means  of  thefe  his  Doings  and  Attempts,  though 
only  as  Compliances  with  the  Divine  conditional  Promife,  in  which 
God  is  fuppofed  to  have  made  a  fure  Connection  between  renewing 
Grace  and  fuch  Endeavours ;  This,  if  I  know  any  thing  of  Gofpel- 
Humility,  is  not  to  think  foberly,  but  to  think  of  him/elf  more  highly 
than  he  ought  to  think,  as  the  Cafe  appears  to  me.  Here  is  fpiritual 
Pride,  founded  on  vain  Imaginations,  f  lere  are  Falfehoods  fet  up 
for  Truths,  and  improved  to  S.: If  Right eoufnefs,  and  to  fuch  Self-Boajh 
ing,  as  hath  much  of  moral  Evil  in  ir.  And  methinkK,  none  fhould 
doubt  whether  the  Gofpel-Scheme  of  Salvation  excludes  this,  when 
it  is  fo  exprefly  declared  th^t  Boajting  (all  fiaful  Boafting)  is  excluded 
by  the  Law  of  Faith. 

The  only  Point  here,  requiring  Proof,  I  think  is  this,  That  the 
Suppofition  of  any  true  moral  Excellency  ?.viS  folid  Goodnefs  in  the  bed: 
polTible  Doings  of  the  Unregenerate,  whilfl  fuch,  is  bur  ameer  Dream 
zind  vain  Imagination. 

And  though  this  appears  to  me  inconteftibly  evident,  both  from 
Scripture  and  Reafon,  yet  becaufe  I  would  not  anticipate  what  will 
more  properly  be  offer'd  in  another  Place  hereafter,  I  fliall  at  pre- 
fent  only  fuggeO:  and  argue  a  little  with  you  upon  the  Impoffibility, 
in  the  Nature  of  Thing?,  that  this  Suppofition  fliould  be  true.  For, 
fince  the  Ible  original  Standard,  by  which  the  moral  Goodnefs  or 
Re6lirude  of  the  Creatures  Adlions  can  be  meafur'd  and  deter- 
mined, is  the  moral  Perfeftions  of  God,  and  fjnce  Sin  is  the  pre- 
dominant Principle  in  the  unrenewed  Man,  from  whence  all  his 
Aclions  mult  take  their  principal  Denomination  and  have  their 
Specification,  how  is  it  poffible  for  the  bed  Doings  of  fuch  a  Man, 
while  under  the  Dominion  of^m,  to  harmonife  in'any  Degree  with 
the  moral  Nature  of  God,  fo  as  to  be  approvable  in  his  Sight  ? 
Ic's  impoffible  then,  that  the  Suppofition  before  us  fhouid  have  any 
Foundation  in  Tm^.-.-And  I  argue  upon  this  ;  If  the  heft  Doings 
of  the  Unregenerate  have- no  proper  moral  Goodnefs  in  them,  they 
then  have  no  moral  Fitnefs  to  be  the  Condition  in  a  Divine  Promife 

F  of 


42  S  p  E  c  I A  L  G  R  A  c  E  K(?f  pYomifed 

of  fpecial  Grace  ;  and  confequently  to  plead  fuch  a  morally  unfit 
Condition,  though  perform'd  to  the  highefl:  Degree  that  an  unrege- 
nerate  State  will  admit  of,  as  intitling  the  Doer  (in  Virtue  of  a  pre- 
tended Promife)  to  faving  Grace,  is  to  rejoice  in  a  Thing  of  Nought^ 
and  to  bring  in  that  vain  Boajiing,  which  the  Gofpel-Scheme  intirely 
pjiits  out.  To  fuppofe  therefore  any  J^orks  of  the  Unregenerate,  in 
God's  Promife,  cloathed  v/ith  fuch  a  ConditiGnaHty,  as  hath  this  ex- 
cluded Boajiing  inftp^r^WiY  connefted  with  it,  is  nothing  lefs  than  to 
pervert  the  Go/pel  of  Chri[i,  and  thwart  its  true  Defign,  in  this  Par- 
ticular. 

It  appears  to  me  a  clear  Scripture-Truth,  that  with  a  View  to  the 
Exchifon  ofBoaJiing,  all  Works  of  the  Unregenerate  are,  in  the  Scheme 
of  the  Gofpel,  excluded  from  being  conditional  of  the  Befcowmenc  of 


to  bis  Mercy,  he  fa^icd  us.  2.  Tim.  i.  9.  fFho  hath  faved  us,  and 
called  us  'voith  an  holy  Calling,  not  according  to  our  Works,  hut  according 
to  his  oivn  Purpofe  and  Grace. — The  Apoftle  fpeaks  not  of  a  meer 
Salvability,  but  of  aciual Salvation;  aflerts  a  then-exifting  State  ,•  and 
points  out  the  Method  of  Introdu61ion  into  it,  both  neg.uively  and 
pofitively. — Hath  faved  us.  i.e.  notonly  given  us  the  external  Means 
of  Sah^ation,  and  brought  us  into  his  viiible  Kingdom,  but  into  a 
juftify'd  and  renew'd  State,-  the  Apoftlefpeaking  this  knowingly  for 
nimfelf,  and  charitably  for  others  :  nor  can  any  reafonable  Doubt  a- 
rife  here  of  his  ufing  the  Word  [faved]  in  this  Senfe.  And  as  to 
the  I\le':hod  of  bringing  them  into  this  fa'ved  State,  he  peremptorily 
determines  it  to  be,  in  its  negative  View,  Ji&r  by  Works  of  Right  eon f- 
7iefs  ivhichthey  had  done ;  not  accord ing  to  Works,  any  at  all  whatfoever, 
previous  to  and  conditional  of  the  Befiowment  of  faving  Grace.  He 
does  not  meerly  fay,  not  for  Works,  but  not  by  or  through  them,  yea, 
even  not  according  "to  them,  i,  e.  not  with  any  Pvcference  to  them,  as 
3  Condition.  But,  in  a  pofitive  View  of  the  Cafe,  'twas  intirely  ac- 
cording to  God's  Mercy,  according  to  his  own  Purpofe  and  Grace.  His 
own  Mercy  was  all  his  Motive  to  faving  them  :  and  his  ozvn  Purpofe 
his  only  Rule  in  Difpenfing  his  Grace.— Again,  we  read,  i  Cor.  4. 
7.  Who  maketh  thee  to  differ  from  another  ?  and  zvhat  haft  thou,  that  thou 
didjl  not  rffceive  ?  Now  if  thou  didft  receive  it,  why  do/i  thou  glory  [or 
boaft]  as  though  thou  hadft  not  received  it  ?— -So  Rom.  4..  2,  &c.  If 
Abraham  were  juftified  by  Works,  he  hath  whereof  to  glory  ;  but  not  be- 
fore God.'"To  him  that  worketb,  is  the  Reward  not  reckoned  of  Grace,  but 
of  Debt. — To  him  that  worketbnot,  but  bslievetb  on  Him  who  juftifietb 
''  the 


to  any  Endeavours  cf  the  Unregenerate.  43 

the  Ungodly,  his  Faith  is  counted  for  Right eoufnefs. — Unto  them  God  im- 
piteth  Righteoiifnefs  without  Works.-- Again,  Rom.  3.  27.  Where  is 
Boafting  then  ?  It  is  excluded.  By  what  Law  ?  Of  works  !  Nay^  hut 
by  the  Law  of  Faith.  And  Chap.  11.  6.  Jf  by  Grace,  then  it  is  no  more 
cf  Works  :  otherwife  Grace  is  no  more  Grace.  But  if  it  be  of  Works, 
then  is  it  no  more  Grace  :  otherwife  Work  is  no  more  Work.  Again, 
Eph.  2.  9.  Not  of  Works,  lefi  any  Man  fljouhl  boaJL— And  once  more 
I  Cor.  I.  29.   That  no  Flefj  /Jjonld  glory  in  his  Pref  nee. 

Ic  appears  to  me  exceeding  evident  from  thefe  and  other  parallel 
Tex:s,  chac  with  a  View  to  the  Exchijion  of  all  Glorying  or  Boafting 
in  and  of  ourfelves,  the  Works  of  the  Unregenerate  mufl  be  under- 
ftood,  as  confider'd  under  fome  certain  Notion,  Relation,  or  Qualityy 
to  be  excluded  from  the  BuGnefs  of  their  Recovery  out  of  a  perilling 
State  of  Nature  into  a  State  0^  Salvation,  i.  e.  a  juftify'd  and  fanfti- 
fy'd  State.  For,  Boafting  is  faid  to  be  excluded,  Not  by  the  Law  of 
Works,  but  by  the  Law  of  Faith.  However,^  we  make  void  the 
Laiv  through  Faith  ?  God  forbid  !  Yea,  we  sjlablifo  the  Law.  Certain- 
ly therefore  PForks  are  not  excluded  as  to  their  ^erieral  Being,  or  in 
Refpeft  of  our  moral  Obligation  to  them  ;  but  the  Law  ftriSUy  requires 
them  of  every  Man.  And  hence  it  is  a  clear  Confequence,  that  fince 
the  Law  is  not  made  void  through  Faith,  therefore  theExclufion  of 
Works  by  the  Gofpel  muft  be  taken  in  fome  qualified  and  limited 
Senfe,  and  mull:  refpedl  thefe  Works  as  confider'd  under  fome  certain 
fpecial  Notion,  Relation,  or  imagin'd  ()uality.----Aud  what  can  thefe 
be  ?  I  anfwer,  They  are  all  poifible  miftaken  Notions,  Relations  or 
fuppofed  Qualities,  under  which  thofe  Works  being  confidered,  they 
do  contain  Grounds  of  Boafting.  This  is  evident  from  the  Scrip- 
ture's faying,  Not  of  PForks,  lefi  any  Man  Jhoujd  boaft  :  which  {liews, 
that  were  it  of  Works,  it  would  threaten  this  Confequence,  and  there- 
fore that  the  View  in  excluding  Works  is  for  the  fake  of  excluding 
Boafting.  But  more  particularly,  the  Works  of  the  Unregenerate  are 
excluded  with  this  View,  whenconfider'd  under  the  Notion  (i-)Oi 
tlieir  containing  in  them  a  proper  F.fficiency  or  Power  to  renew  and 
purify  their  Hearts,  cure  their  moral  Diforders,  and  recover  them 
to  llappinefs,  in  Concurrence  with  the  external  Advantages  of  the 
Gofpel.— Or  (2.)  Of  their  carrying  flricl  and  proper  Merit  in  them, 
to  intitle  them  to  Divine  fpecial  Grace.-- Or  (3)  Of  their  having  in 
them  fomethingof  Mo;v7/  Goodnefs  or  true  Re&itudein  God's  Accounr, 
to  recommend  them  to  his  Acceptance,  and  us  to  his  Favour.— Or 
(4-)  Of  their  being  an  appointed  Condition  in  the  Gorpel-Covenant^ 
and  having  the  Prow7>  of '  fpecial  Grace  made  to  them.— Thefe  are 
fome  of  the  miftaken  Notions  or  Refpe6l;s,  under  which  the  unrege- 
nerate 


44  SvECiAL    Grace  not  prowJfed 

rerateflrlvin^iT  Sinner  may  be  apt  to  conceive  toohighly  of  his  Works; 
and  we  may  juflly  fuppofe,  his  befl  fForks  are,  under  all  fuch  Con- 
fiderarions  of  them,  excluded  by  the  Law  of  Faith,  for  the  Sake  of  ex- 
cluding Z;/?^y?/77^.  Thefe  imply  fo  many  vain  EfFons  of  the  fallen 
Creature  in  g'olng  abut  to  Fjfablifh  his  o'uon Right eoufnejs,  and  toreflore 
himfelf  to  Happinefs,  by  Virtue  of  his  own  Sufficiency,  withouryi^Z?- 
vntting  himfelf  to  the  Right eoufnefs  of  God,  or  being  dependant  on  his 
fovereign  Grace  for  Salvation. 

Now,  though  k  were  no  difficult  Task,. to  prove,  that  PForks^^s 
confider'd  under  all  the  above-mentioned  Refpe^ls,  are  by  the  Gof- 
pel-Scheme  of  Salvation  excluded,  for  the-fake  of  excluding  Boafiing\ 
yet  becaufe  'tis  the  Ja[i  only  I  am  here  concerned  with,  I  fliall  wholly 
pafs  the  or  hers ;  fave  only  fo  far  as  ei:her  of  them  may  ferve  foe  a  Me- 
dium, applicable  to  my  purpofe,  in  the  prcTent  Debate.--'],' wo  Things 
are  proper  to  be  atrempted,  for  clearing  the  Point  now  before  us. 
(i.)  Tnat  the  Works  of  the  Unregeneratc  are  in  the  Scheme  of 
Man's  Salvation  excluded,  for  the  fake  of  excluding  BoaJling.----Arid 
(2.)  Their  being  excluded  with  this  View,  argues  that  they  muflof 
NeceiTity  be  denied  the  Place  of  Cojj^/^/onx  in  any  Divine  Promife  of 
fpecial  Grace. 

[i.]  I  am  to  fliew,  that  the  PVorks  of  the  Unre generate,  wbile  fuchy 
even  at!  their  befl  Duties,  Endeavours,  and  Improvements  Tchatever,  fup- 
pofed  by  thetnfelves  or  others  to  have  forne  true  Goodnrfs  and  moral  Excel- 
lency, ivhereby  they  might  be  acceptable  to  God,  are,  as  conjidered  under  that 
Notion.,  excluded  from  the  Biifmefs  of  a  Sinner's  being  brought  into  a 
faved  State,  for  the  fake  of  excluding  Boading. 

I'he  Truth  of  tins  may  be  evinc'd  from  fundry  Confiderations, 
As, 

I.  From  Scripuire-rveprefentaiions  of  tlie  End  defign'd  in  the  Ex- 
clufion  of  PVcrks,  viz.  that  Bonjiing  may  be  excluded. --By  the  Texts 
before  cited,  it  appears,  that  fVorks  are  excluded  for  the  fake  of  ex- 
cluding Boafling  :  and  if  fo,  it  muft  be  concluded,  the  Defign  is  to 
exclude  them  under  every  Notion,  which  contains  the  Grounds,  of  or 
leaves  Room  for  Boafling.  By  Confequence,  it  muft  be  the  Inten- 
tion of  the  Holy  Ghofl  to  exclude  them  under  the  Notion  of  their 
being  morally  good,  in  the  fight  of  God  ;  fince  Works,  confider'd  m 
this  View,  do  contain  evident  Grounds  of  Boafling,  or  at  leafl:  evi- 
dently leave  Room  for  it  ;  Moral  Reftitude  being  the  very  Image 
of  God,  which  was  the  primitive  Glory  of  Man,  and  the  highefl: 
Excellency  that  can  be  attributed  to  any  Doings  of  the  Creature.— 
It  were  abfurd,  to  aflert  that  the  Scripture  Ihould  exclude  Works  for 
the  fake  of  excluding  Boafling,  and  yet  at  the  fame  time  to  fuppofe 


fo  a«y  Endeavours  p/  r^^  Unre  GENE  RATE.  45 

it  allows  them  to  have  any  true  Moral  Goof^nefs  in  rbem  ;  flrce  in 
this  Cafe  the  defign  would  be  frullated,  and  Bnajiing  would  bv  no 
means  be  excluded,  though  fi^orks  were  under  everv  other  Notion, 
but  this,  excluded.  Accordingly  we  find,  thar  the  Holy  d'hofi:.  by  the 
Pen  of  the  Apoftle,  in  all  that  he  fays  on  this  Subje(:!Vin  the  places 
above  cited,  fliews  it  plainly  to  be  his  Defign  and  Drift,  to  exclude 
fVorks,  as  confider'd  under  this  midaken  Notion  of  their  having  in 
them  Moral  Goodnep J  or  true  Holinefs,  in  the  fight  of  God.  'ihus 
when  the  Apoftle  ufes  fuch  Expreffions  as  thefe,  By  Grace  ye  are  fav- 
ed^—not  of  fVorks  ;----Not  hy  IVorh  of  Righteoufnefs  which  we  have 
done,  &c.  his  Meaning  can't  be,  to  deny  that  he  or  others  chen  in  a  re- 
new'd  State  had  before  their  Conversion  done  any  Works  whatfoe- 
ver,  that  were  materially  good,  fuch  as  praying,  and  the  like  com- 
manded Duties  ;  but  to  difclaim  the  formal  Goodncfs  of  them,  and 
deny  them  to  have  true  Morality  in  God's  Account,  or  any  fuch  Con- 
formity to  his  righteous  Law,  as  makes  them  pleafmg  to  Him ;  which 
the  Pride  and  Ignorance  of  the  fallen  Creature  flatter  him  with  vain 
Imaginations  of —All  Works  therefore  of  the  Unregenerate,  as  con- 
fider'd under  this  Notion  of  being  morally  good,  mufl  by  the  Gofpcl 
be  utterly  excluded,  in  Order  that  hereby  all  Crrounds  o^  .Boafttng 
might  be  remov'd,  and  no  Place  left  for  it  in  the  Scheme  of  Man's 
Salvation. ---Let  it  be  obferv'd  now, 

^  2.  That  all  Works  of  the  Unregenerate,  fuppofed  to  be  of  a  true 
moral  Complexion,  as  above  defcribed,  are  the  very  Works,  which 
the  Scripture  clearly  points  out  as  defign'd  to  be  excluded,  for  the 
fake  of  exclud  ing  Boajling.  Here  it  may  fuffice  to  cite  two  or  three 
plain  Text?.  Thus,  Eph.  2.  5.  Even  when  we  were  dead  in  Sins,  be 
hath  quickned  us  together  with  Chrift.  (By  Grace  ye  are  faved)  The  Sin- 
ner's being  brought  into  a  State  of  Salvation  is  here,  in  the  flrongeft 
Language,  intirely  refolved  into  jyivmeGrace  :  and  in  like  Language 
the  fame  Apoftle  declares  it  to  be  not  of  our  /elves, --not  of  Works, 
ver.  8,  9-  ^tid  agreeably  in  Rom.  11.  6.  Grace  and  Works  zre  op- 
pofed  to  each  other,  as  incompatible  in  this  Affair.  Now  that  Works 
of  the  Unregenerate,  pretended  to  be  of  a  fpiritual  and  moral  Cha- 
ra6ler,  are  comprehended  here,  and  defignedly  by  the  Apoflle  ex- 
cluded frorn  the  Bufinefs  of  their  being  brought  into  a  faved  State, 
appears  evidently,  by  his  fetching  an  Argument,  for  the  Illuftration 
of  Divine  Grace,  from  their  antecedent  State,  which  he  defcribes  as  a 
State  of  fpiritual  or  mor^l  Death  :  and  this  carries  in  it  the  ftrongefl: 
Implication  of  their  total  Incapacity  to  do  Works  truly  moral  and 
fpiritual.  Thefe  Works  then,  to  preferve  the  Force  of  the  Apoflle's 
Reafoning,  we  mult  underfland  to  be  here  meant  by  him,  when  he 

tells 


-iL6  Special  Grace  not  promifed 

tells  them,  that  their  Salvation  was  not  cf  fForks.---- And  this  Con- 
ni-uci'ion  may  be  enforced,  by  confidering  the  End,  for  which  (as 
he  cbferves)  /-Forks  are  excluded,  f.  g.  Not  cf  Works,  left  any  Man 
fhoiild  Boaft.  Upon  which  it  immediately  follows,  For  zvie  are  God's 
iVorkmanJhipy  created  in  Chrift  Jcfus  unto  good  fVorks.  —  Salvation 
cannot  be  f/  Works,  any  good  Works  whaifoever  ;  becaiife  none 
rruly  fuch  in  God's  Account  can  poffibly  precede  Salvation  begun, 
in  this  being  created  in  Chrift  J  ejus.- - -Though  in  the  firft  PaiTage  the 
Apo'lle  fpeaks  of  Works  indefinitely,  yet  the  End  he  aifigns  for  their 
Exclufion,  Difcovers  a  particular  Reference  to  fuch  as  are  cf  a  lau- 
dable i\fpeft,  and  fiippofed  by  the  Doers  of  them  to  be  morally  Good 
in  the  Account  of  God.  Elfe  what  Grounds  of  Boafting  could  be 
pretended?---However,to  intimate  the  moral  fpecifickDifference  there 
is  between  the  befl  Duties  done  before  Converfion,  and  the  fame 
done  after,  he  diftinguiflies  the  latter  by  a  peculiar  Epithet,  and  in- 
titles  them  Good  Works.  And  the  Force  of  the  Argument  here,  to 
confirm  his  Point,  lies  chiefly  in  this,  That  good  Works  (truly  fuch) 
are  fuhfequent  Fruits  of  Salvation  already  begun  in  the  Soul  :  and 
therefore  they  cannot  either  in  the  Nature  of  Things,  by  their  own 
Efficiency,  be  the  produftiveCaufe  of  it;  nor  yet  in  the  Scheme  of 
the  Gofpe'^  by  Divine  Appointment,  be  the  Covenant -Condition  of  it; 
nor  by  virtue  of  any  relative  or  intrinfick  Excellency  in  them,  be 
the  nwoing  Confideration  with  God  to  beflow  it  ;  becaufe  in  either 
of  thefe  Views  of  them,  an  Antecedency  is  fuppofed,  that  is  repug- 
nant to  the  Scripture,  which  dates  their  Exiftence,  not  before,  buc 
after  Converfion.  For  we  are  his  WorkmanfJoip,  created  in  Chrijl  Jefus 
unto  good  Works. 

Nov/  can  there  be  any  Shadow  of  a  reafonable  Ground  to  doubr, 
whether  the  Apoftle,  where  he  reje6ls  the  Notion  of  Salvation's 
being  of  Works  (fo  far  as  it  refpe6ts  its  Beginning  at  leafl)  intends 
fuz\\  Worksop  the  Unregenerate,  as  they  are  apt  fondly  to  imagine  are 
of  the  fame  moral  Kind  and  excellent  Q^iality  with  ihofethat  Believers 
are  faid  to  be  created  in  Chrift  Jefus  unto,  which  the  Apoftle  calls  good 
JVorh.,  and  which  are  fo  indeed,  being  in  point  of  Principle  and  End 
and  iKlanner,  as  well  as  Matter,  truly  (chough  imperfeftly)  confor- 
mable to  the  Nature  and  Will  of  God,  the  Rule  and  Pattern  of 
moral  Gooi/n^y?. — Surely  it  were  unworthy  the  Charaiter  ofan  in- 
fpir'd  Apoflle,  to  make  him  fo  weak  and  inconfillent  a  Reafoner, 
as  to  argue,  that  Salvation  is  not  of  PForks,  becaufe  otherwife  Boaft- 
ing were  mt  excluded ;  and  yet  all  the  while  to  have  his  Eye  here, 
DOC  to  fuch  Works  as  Men  flatter  themfelves  with  the  Suppofitionof 
a  moral  Goodnefs  in,  and  which  only  can  be  imagin'd  to  carry  in  them 

any 


fo  fl»y  Endeavours  </ t/;^  Unregenerat  e.  47 

anyGrounds  of  Boaftingy  but  to  others  of  a  quite  different  Kind, that 
can  be  fuppofed  to  afford  no  poffible  Pretext  for  this  Boafting  ; 
for  the  fake  of  excluding  which,  the  Apoftle  declares  PJ^orks  exclu- 
ded !  —  We  muft  therefore,  were  it  only  in  Reverence  to  the 
infpir'd  Writer,  conclude,  that  when  he  {huts  out  PForks  from  hav- 
ing a  Hand  in  beginning  the' Salvation  of  a  Sinner,  he  means  to 
exclude  all  Works  of  the  Unregenerate,  whatever  Goodnefs  or  moral 
Excellence  they  may  conceive  to  be  in  them. 

I  would  fubjoin  here  :  If  I  miflake  not,  there  are  thefe  two  or 
three  Things  will  clearly  follow  from  the  Tenor  and  Scope  of 
the  Apoftle's  Argumentation. 

(i.)  That  all  Boafting  on  the  Part  of  the  Unregenerate,  is  fo 
founded  on  that  falfe  Hypothefis  of  their  Capacity  to  do  (in  their 
prefent  State)  Works  morally  good,  holy  or  fpiritual,  in  God's  Ac- 
count, as  that  the  excluding  of  IVorks,  under  that  Notion  or  Refpecl, 
will  effetlually  exclude  them  under  every  Notion  or  Refpeft,  that 
implies  any  the  leafl:  Ground  for  Boafting  \  or,  which  amounts  to  the 
fame  Thing,  will  effeftually  exclude  all  Boafting, \n  that  Cafe. ---And 
this  will  appear,  if  we  confider  (i.)  That  it  is  manifeftly  the  Apoftlt's 
Defign  here,  fo  to  exclude  PVorks,  as  by  that  Means  to  exclude  all 
Boafting.  Says  he,  Not  of  Works,  left,  any  Man  floould  Boaft:  q.  d. 
Not  of  ^or^j",  confider'd  under  any  Notion  wharever  thai  contains  in 
it  Grounds  of  Boafting. --And  (2)That  with  this  Viev/,  hefetshimfeif 
to  prove, that  ^oo(i  Works,  ivuly  fuch,  zre  conjequential  coRegeneraion, 
and  fo  an  impoffible  Suppofition  before  it.  Thus  his  Reafonings  ftand 
in  Connedlion  '.---Not  of  IVorks,  left  any  Man  jloouJd  Boaft.  For  'uoe 
are  Goa's  Workman flfip,  created  in  Chriftjefns  unto  good  Works.  This 
proves,  that  when  he  ufes  the  ex:lurive  Phrafe,  Not  of  Works,  he 
muft  have  his  Eye  to  fuch  Works  only,  as  being  fuppofed  to  have 
in  them  the  true  Excellency  of  good  Works,  do  under  that  Notion 
contain  Grounds  of  Boafting.  And  now  to  (hew,  that  in  the  Gofpel- 
Scheme  of  Salvation  there's  no  Room  left  for  any  fuch  Boafting,  he 
deftroys  the  very  Notion  on  which  this  is  founded,  by  aflliring  us  thac 
Works  truly  good  do  follow  Cenverfion,  or  the  new  Creation  in  Chrift 
Jefus,  and  therefore  can  never  have  Place  in  an  unregenerate  State. 
This  View  of  his  Reafoning  makes  it  clofe,  and  effe6lual  to  cut  off 
Boafting:  but  to  take  it  in  any  other  View,  not  confident  with  this, 
will  (for  ought  I  can  fee)  leave  it  loofe,  incoherent,  and  utterly  in- 
conclufive  to  his  Purpofe  ;*  which  it  were  moft  unworthy  and  ab- 
furd  to  fuppofe  in  the  Cafe  of  an  Apoftle,  writing  under  divine  In- 
fpiration.— -Befides,  this  Argument  may  be  ftrengthen'd  by  confi- 
dering  (as  before  fuggefted)  the  Name  of  Things.  For,  feeing  mo- 
ral 


4S  S  p  E  c  I A  L  G  R  A  c  E  ;fo^'  proniifcd 

ral  Goohefs  is  ihe  true  Excellency  of  human  Nature  and  human  Ac- 
tions, inljat  be  deny'd  in  the  Caih  of  an  Unregenerate  Man,  what 
Grounds  are  left  fuch  an  one  of  glorying  in  himfelf,  or  hoafting  ia 
any  Efforts  of  his  own  towards  Salvation  ?  So  that  theApoflle  here, 
m-Lhinks,  appears  as  a  Matter- Workman  indeed;  at  one  Blowftrik- 
ing  Death  at  the  Root  of  all  Boajling,  in  this  Affair  of  obtaining ths 
Salvation  which  is  by  Chrift  Jefiis.  For  how  is  it  poflible,  in  the  Na- 
ture of  Things,  that  fVurks  deflitiite  of  all  true  moral  Excellency, 
lliould  by  any  Efficacy  of  theirs  be  produ6live  of  faving  Converfion, 
or  ingenerate  moral  Goodnefs  in  Men !  This  were  abfurdly  to  fup- 
pofe  them,  to  give  what  they  have  not ;  ye,-!,  to  produce  an  EfFedl, 
not  only  tranfcending  the  Power  of  the  Caufe,  but  even  contrary  to 
the  Bias  of  its  Nature  !----0r  how  is  it  poffible  they  (hould  be  me- 
ritorivujly  (  ^ny  more  than  efficiently)  the  Caufe  of  a  Goodnefs  and 
Excellency,  infinitely  fuperior  to  any  Thing  in  themfelves  !•— Or 
how  can  they  rationally  be  fuppofed  to  have  fo  much  as  the  Force 
of  ^.Condition  in  the  Divine  Promifes,  intitUng  the  Doer  of  them  to 
infinite  Bleflings  at  the  Hand  of  God  ,•  when  at  the  fame  time  they 
have  in  them  Nothing  at  all  of  the  formal  Nature  of  true  Goodnefs  or 
moral  Excellency,  to  fit  them  for  his  Regards  d.^  2i  moral  Governor  \ 

But  I  proceed  to  another  Obfervation,  referring  to  the  Jpojlk's 
Reafoning  here Tliac  from  this  it  muli  follow, 

(2)  That  CO  fuppofe  him  excluding  IVorks  of  the  Unregenerate 
under  every  other  poflible  Notion,  fave  this  only  of  their  being 
morally  Goody  would  by  no  means  reach  his  profcfs'd  Defign,  which 
is  to  exclude  Boafiing.  For  h  long  as  the  moral  Goodnefs  of  thefe 
Works  is  maintain'd,  the  main  Spring  of  -Bo^y^m^  ftill  remains.  To 
fuppofe  them  excluded  under  every  other  Notion  whatever,  but 
not  under  this,  would  therefore  not  anfwer  the  End  aim'd  at  in 
their  Exclufion,  which  is  to  Ihuc  out  all  Boafiing. 
Moreover, 

(3.)  It  will  hence  clearly  follow,  that  every  Scripture- Infiance  of 
excluding  l^^'orks  for  the  fake  of  excluding  Boafiing,  mufl  defign  to 
exclude  them  under  this  Notion,  as  vainly  imagin'd  to  be  morally 
Good  before  God  :  fince  (as  we  have  feen  before)  'tis  impofTible, 
that  Boafiing  in    that  Cafe  fliould  otherwife  be  excluded. 

But  to  go  on  Lo  another  Text  of  Scripture.  — 

The  Truth  lam  defending,  is  clearly  held  forth,  I  think, in  thofe 
other  Words  above- quoted  from  i  Cor.  4.  7.  IVho  maketh  thee  to  dif- 
fer from  another  ?  And  what  haft  thou,  that  thou  didfl  not  receive?  Now 
if  thou  didfi  receive  it,  why  dofi  thou  glory  (or  boafl)  as  though  thou 
hadfi  not  rsc^ivcd  it  ?  The  Dejign  of  the  Apoflle  liere  appears  to  me 

very 


u  any  Endeavours  </ //;rr  Unregenerate.  4f 

Very  much  the  fame,  as  in  the  former  Text  ;  namely,  to  cut  off  all 
pretences  for  Boajling  (whether  of  the  Corinthian  ProfefTors,  or  their 
Teachers)  in  their  refpedHve  Attainments,  under  the  Advantages 
of  the  Gofpel,  either  in  point  ot  fpecial   Grace,  or  extraordinary 
Gifts.     And  the  Medium  he  makes  XJ^q  of  here,  is  for  Subftance  the 
fame  too  ;  namely,  thefliutting  out  JVorks,  fuppofed  to  have  moral 
Worthinefs  in  them,  from  being   the  procuring  Caufe  of  their  At- 
tainments, and   refolving  them  into  the  fovereign  Pieafure  of  the 
Divine  Donor  ;  to  whom  they  flood  Debtors  for  all  their  Receipts.--- 
Here  are  two  Queftions  or  Demands.     The  Firft  is.  Who  makeththee 
to  differ  ?     To  which  the  Anfwer,  here  plainly  imply'd,  is,  That  Di- 
vine Benefaftor,  who  is  the  fovereign   Author  of  every  good  and 
perfe61:  Gift.     It's  He,  that  puts  the  Diftindtion  upon  Men,  when 
they  excell  others  in  valuable  Attainments.     'Tis  the  Refult  of  his 
free  Favour.     'Tis  not  any  antecedent  moral  Excellency  in  any  thus 
diftinguifh'd,  that  makes  the  Difference  :     Or  in  Scripture-Language, 
Not  by  Works  of  Right coufnefs,   vihich  they  ha-oe  done. —  The  other 
Queflion  is.  What  hajl  thou,  that  thou  didjt  not  receive  ?    q.  d.  Thefe 
your  diftinguilhing  Attainments  under  the  Gofpel,  in  which  you  are 
fo  apt*  to  glory,  are  you  not  indebted  for  them  to  the  Father  of 
Lights  and  God  of  all  Grace,  who  has  freely  given  them  to  you!  Whether 
as  to  fanftifying  Grace,  or  extraordinary  Gifts,  are  you  not  a  meer 
Receiver  !  Had  you  Power  in  your  felf  to  acquire  them ;  or  Me- 
rit, to  purchafe  them  !     Or  with  regard  to  fpecial  Grace,  had  you 
even   any  antecedent  moral    or  fpiritual  Excellency,   to  intitle  you 
10  it   /    Surely,  you  mull  confefs.  It  is  not  of  PForks.  For  you  could 
do  None  worthy  of  God,  before  you  rcceivd  his  fpecial  Grace  :    And 
here  you  was  a  meer  Receiver,  in  Oppofirion  to  anvRight  whatever, 
or  aftive  Acquirement,  on  your  parr.     You  are  in  every  refpe6l  whol- 
ly a  Debtor  to  the  abfolure  Grace  of  the  Divine  Giver,---Thu3,  tak- 
ing the  Apoftle's  Qiiejiion  in  this  its  natural  and  unforc'd   Meaning, 
there  appears  in  it  a  juft  Foundation  for  his  Conclufion,  which  fol- 
lows, by  way  of  Query  again,-— A^(?:y  ifibou  didjt  receive  it,  why  then 
dojl  thou  glory y  as  Tf  thou  didjt  not  receive  it !  A  very  clofe  Expollula- 
tion,  and  carrying  in  it  Matter  of  full  Conviftion  to  the  Reafon  and  Con- 
fcience  of  thofe  he  wrote  to,  that  they  had  no   poflible  Room  Ie(c 
for  boaflingy  on  the  Account  of  any  their  diftinguilhingAttainmentr. 
It's   good  Argument  why  Men  fliould  not  glory  in   any  Gifis  of 
Naturey  or  common  Proo;W^;?cf,  becaufe  thefe  are  what  they  have  r^*- 
ccived.    But  furely  thefe  were  not  the  only,  nor  the  principal  Thing?, 
that  the  Apoflle  moft  probablv  had  in  his  Eye,  or  that  ibc  Corinth:- 
ms  ^0  boafled  in.     And  though  extraordinary   Gifts,  of  the  fuperna- 

^  tural 


50  Special   Gka c^  not  promifed 

tural  and  miraculous  kind,  are  included  here  ,•  yet  certaMy  fpect-' 
al  Grace  is  by  no  Means  to  be  thought  excluded,  as  feme  precend. 
For  how  would  this  comport  with  the  Apoflles  Reafoning  and  with 
his  main  Defign  here  ?  Would  not  a  proud  Elation  of  Mnid  in  any 
under  the  View  of  a  fuppofed  moral  Goodnefs  in  their  Endeavours 
to  get  Jpecial  Grace,  be  as  really  in  the  Apoflle's  Senfe  Glorying  or 
Boaji'mgy  as  an  undue  Lifting- up  themfelves  under  the  View  of  their 
Endeavours  to  acquire  thofe  extraordinary  Gifts  1  And  is  not  the  at- 
taining o^  Jpecial  Grace  by  the  Creature's  own  Doings,  a  rather  higher 
Ground  of  Boajling,  than  what  appears  in  the  other  Cafe  ,•  by  how 
much  'tis  of  a  more  excellent  Nature  and  fuperior  Importance  ?  If 
the  one's  being  received  is  a  Confideration  fufficient  to  filence  all 
Boajling^  in  that  Particular,  why  fhould  not  the  fame  Confideration  be 
allowed  equal  Force  in  the  Cafe  of  the  other,  which  is  as  much  re- 
ceived alfo  ?  Surely,  by  Parity  of  Reafon,  at  lead:,  the  Apoftle's  Re- 
buke to  the  Corinthian  Boafter  is  applicable  to  the  Cafe  of  glorying 
in  an  imagin'd  tnoral  Goodnefs  of  unrcgentrate  Men's  Endeavours  to 
attain  converting  Grace.  For  any?  upon  a  fuppos'd  Attainment  of 
this  Grace,  to  afcribe  it  to  an  imaginary  moral  Excellency  in  his 
own  Efforts,  while  unregenerate,  feems  evidently  to  be  a  glorying  in 
it, as  though  he  received  it  not;  and  fo  brings  him  under  the  Correftioa 
of  the  Apoflle's  Rod,  as  here  exercifed. 

The  Truth,  as  it  appears  to  me,  is  (i.)  That  all  M^^'orks  morally 
good  and  approvable  before  God,  are  utterly  impra^icable  by  the 
fallen  Creature,  whilft  unrenewed,  and  under  the  Dominion  of  Sin  ; 
as.  Sir,  you  concede  the  Subjeft  of  our  prefent  Controverfy  tobe.— 
And  (2.)  That  for  a  poor  Smner,  in  this  his  guiky,  impotent,  and 
forlorn  State,  to  be  elated  or  puffed  up  with  a  vain  Imagination  of 
its  being  in  his  Power  (even  under  the  higheft  Refinements  of  Na- 
ture, with  the  Help  of  meer  com.mon  Grace)  to  perform  A6ls  of  pro- 
per moral  Virtue,  or  true  Holinefs,  pleafing  and  acceptable  to  God  ; 
I  fiiy,  for  fuch  a  one  to  cherifli  this  Principle,  to  profefs  it,  and  to 
purfue  it  in  Pra6lice,  attempting  Duties  upon  this  Prefumption,  and 
governing  his  Hopes  of  Succefs  in  Conformity  to  it.  This  is  nothing 
lefs  than  that  Boafting  and  fpiritual  Vain-glory,  which  the  Gofpel- 
Scheme  of  Salvation  every  where  excludes. ---And  then  (3.)Becaure 
this  Boafting  is  what  arifes  from  the  Pride  of  the  carnal  Mind,  toge- 
ther with  Ignorance  of  the  Depth  of  that  Ruin  of  a  fallen  State  Man- 
kind are  born  in  ,•  and  hath  no  Foundation  at  all  in  the  Nature  of 
Things,  in  the  Truth  of  Faft,  or  in  the  Scheme  of  the  Gofpel  ; 
greatly  derogates  from  the  Glory  of  redeeming  Mercy,  and  from  the 
Honour  of  the  bleffed  Mediator  ;  denies  difcriminating  Grace  to- 
wards 


to  any  Endeavours  0/  r/;^  U  nr  e  g  e n e  r  a  t  t..  St. 

wards  the  fdved  of  the  Lord,  and  IcfTens  their  fenfible  Obhgationsin 
point  of  Gratitude  ;  whiKt  at  the  fame  Time  it  exalts  the  fallen 
Creature,  quiets  him  in  his  own  Sufficiency,  tempts  him  to  delay  his 
Concern  about  Salvation,  leads  him  to  truft  in  himfelf  when  effiying 
Converfion  to  God,  and  Hands  a  Bar  in  the  way  of  his  Coming  to 
God  by  Jefus  Chrift,  for  Mercy  abfolucely  free,  and  unpromifed,  as- 
10  any  Duties  and  Doings  of  his  :  I  fay,  Becaufe  this  Boafling  is 
fuch  a  moral  Evil  in  it  felf,  and  is  pregnant  with  fo  many  other 
Evils,  hence  it  is  undoubtedly,  that  the  Holy  Ghofl  in  Scripture  fo 
repeatedly  and  with  fo  much  Earneftnefs  infifts  upon  the  Exclufion  of 
it. —And  (4)  Becaufe  this  Sin  of  Boafling  is  fo  infeparably  conne^ed 
v'ith  the  Opinion  of  true  moral  Goodnefs  in  the  Works  of  the  Un- 
regenerate,  as  that  it  is  impoffible  to  ^ xcM^  orreje£l  the  former, with- 
out alfo  excluding  and  difallowing  the  latter  (the  Reafon  whereof  is 
exceeding  obvious,  viz.  becaufe  they  that  entertain  that  Opinion,  do 
entertain  2Lfalfe  Notion  of  their  own  Excellency  ,•  and  they  thac 
build  upon  a  falfe  Notion  of  their  own  Excellency,  mud  needs  be 
puffed  up  and  boaft  in  tbemfehes)  therefore  the  one  is  excluded  for 
the  fake  of  excluding  the  other.  Not  of  IVorks,  left  any  Man  flwuld 
boaft. — What  haft  thou,  in  point  of  fuppofed  true  Goodnefs  and  vi- 
tal Religion,  that  thou  hajl  not  received.,  at  the  hand  of  Divine  fove- 
reign  Grace  ?  No"Ji  if  thou  didft  receive  it  thus,  ixihy  daft  thou  boaft ^  as 
though  thou  badft  not  thus  received  it ;  Or,  as  if  it  were  not  of  Grace, 
but  of  Works  ? 

I  ihall  now  (liut  up  the  prefent  Argument,  with  this  fummary  Re- 
coUeiStion  of  all  the  foregoing  Reafonings  under  it.  Since  'tis  in- 
difputably  evident  from  the  feveral  Scriptures  above  recited,  that  all 
Works,  preceeding  Salvation  actually  begun  in  Converfion,  are  in 
the  Gofpel-Scheme  excluded  for  the  Sake  of  excluding  all  Boafting  : 
.---And  fince  it  thence  follows  with  like  Clearnefs,  that  they  are 
excluded  under  every  Notion  of  them,  that  contains  Reafons  or 
Grounds  of  Boafting  :  ----  And  fince  it  is  abundantly  evident,  that 
confider'd  under  the  Notion  of  their  having  true  moral  Goodnefs  in 
them,  they  contain  the  Grounds  and  Reafons  of  Boafting  :— -And 
fince  it  has  been  cvidenc'd,  that  the  Holy  Ghofl:  in  Scripture  doth 
a6lually  and  on  DeCign  exclude  ihem  under  this  Notion,''that  thereby 
all  5o^J7/«^  might  be  excluded  .-----And  laftly,  fince  it  hath  been 
made  appear,  that  Glorying,  or  Boafting,  in  the  Cafe  before  us,  is  fo 
founded  in  or  infeparably  connefted  with  that  Idea  of  the  Doings 
of  the  Unregenerate  (their  having  fome  moral  Excellency  or  true 
Kolinefs  in  them)  as  that  it  is  impollible,  fuch  Glorying  fiiould  other- 
wife  be  totally  excluded,  than  by  excluding  all  fuch  Works,  confi- 

der'al 


52  Special  Grace  not  prmifed 

der'd  under  that  Idea  :— From  thefe  feveral  Confiderations  laid  to* 
gether,  I  fliall  take  ic  at  prefent  for  a  Point  fully  prov'd.  That  all 
fVorks  of  the  Unregenerate,  fuppofed  to  have  the  faid  Idea  an- 
nexed to  them,  are  under  that  Notion  certainly  excluded^  for  the 
fake  of  excluding  Boafting,  from  the  Bufinefs  of  Sinners  being  bro*E 
into  a  State  of  Salvation.— The  other  Point  propofed,  was— 

[2.]  That  all  Works  of  the  Unregenerate,  done  by  them  v/hilft 
fuch,  and  refpeded  by  them  as  morally  good,  being  thus  excluded^  it 
is  a  neceflary  Confequence,  That  they  can't  poifibly  be  included  in 
the  Covenant -Promife,  as  reveal'd  Conditions,  upon  the  Performance  of 
•?vhich,  God  has  engag'd  to  con^ev  fpecial  Grace  upon  Sinners. — 
This  appears  to  me  a  genuine  and  clear  Inference  from  what  has 
been  faid.  For,  if  all  Performances  and  Endeavours  of  Men,  previ- 
ous to  a  renewed  State,  are,  as  refpeded  under  the  Notion  of  their 
being  morally  Good  before  Godj  excluded  the  BuGnefs  of  their  be- 
ing brought  to  Salvation  (or,  which  is  the  fame  in  Eifedl,  deny'd 
to  have  any  Exiftence,  as  confider'd  under  that,  formal  Notion)  in 
Order  that  thereby  all  Boafiing  in'^and  of  themfelves  might  be  Pxit 
mt'^'ii  muft  hence  inevitably  follow,  that  they  can  have  nopoltible 
Place  in  the  Gofpel-Covenanc,  as  Conditions,  to  which  God  has  made 
a  Promife  of  fpecial  Grace. — If,  as  confider'd  under  that  Notion  of 
their  being  morally  good,  or  holy  and  fpiritual,  in  God's  Account, 
the  Scripture  denies  them  any  adlual  Being,  it  muft  necelTarily  deny 
them  alfo,  as  confider'd  under  the  Notion  of  their  being  Conditions^ 
\m  a  Promife  of  fpecial  Grace  made  to  the  Doings  of  ihQ  Unregenerate. 
Otherwife,  we  make  the  Gofpel  folemrJy  to  eftabliili  that  for  a  Con- 
dition, which  at  the  fame  tim.e  it  has  excluded  as  a  meer  Non-Entity; 
having  no  Exijlence,  as  morally  confider'd,  but  in  the  vain  Imagina- 
tion of  the  haughty  Sinner.  What  is  this,  but  to  make  the  Gofpel 
a^s  it  were  defiroy  itfelf^  Here  were  ''fad  Havock"  indeed ! 

That  which  remains  now  before  me,  is,  to  obviate  fome  Objec- 
tions, that  mav  perhaps  be  brought  againft  me,  to  invalidate  my  Rea- 
fonings  inAnfwer  to  you,  and  my  Way  of  arguing  from  fuch  Texts 
of  Scripture  as  I  have  alledg'd  againft  you.— -And  here  it  may  be 
fuggefted  in  Oppofition  to  me, 

Object,  i.  That  I  have  all  along  argu'd  upon  a  falfe  Hypothefis, 
founded  on  a  Mifconflru6tion  of  f^o/?  Scriptures,  'which  fpeak  of  PVorks  as 
excluded,  for  the  Sake  of  excluding  Boafting ;  fince  they  are  only  fVorks 
•f  the  Ceremonial  Lam,  not  of  the  Moral. 

To  which  I  anfwer :  The  Scriptures,in  the  Places  confider'd,  fpeak 
of  Worksy  indefinitely,  wichout  any  explicit  Limitation  to  a  particular 

Law  y 


t9  any  Endeavours  of  the  Unre  gene  rate.  55, 

Law  ;  and,  as  I  think,  without  any  fiich  Ren:ri6tion  neceflarily  im- 
ply'd.  Be  it  the  Law  of  Mofes^  as  contradiftinguifli'd  to  the  Lavr 
of  Faith,  that  is  in  general  refer'd  to,  and  in  all  its  Views,  whether 
as  Mora/,  Ceremonial^  or  judicial,  RIW  according  to  the  revcal'd  Scheme 
of  Salvation-  it  (lands  a  firm  and  unakerable  Truth,  Not  of  PVorks, 
kfl  any  Man  [hould  Boafl.  Why  then  fliould  the  Senfe  be  reftrain'd^ 
as  in  the  Obje6tion  !  But  I  obferve  further,  That  the  true  Scripture- 
Idea  of  Works  in  the  Texts  refer'd  to,  is  of  fuch  Latitude  as  to  ex- 
tend to  Works  of  appearing  vnoral  Goodnefs,  done  in  an  unregene- 
rate  State,  is  evident  from  the  Name  and  S'jle,  by  which  i\\QpVorks> 
excluded  are  fometimes  exprefly  chara6leriz'd  :  as  in  in  that  Text, 
A'^of  by  Works  of  Right coitfnefs,  which  we  have  done,  &c.  And  in  rhofe 
Places,  ^i"  many  as  are  of  the  Works  of  the  Law,  are  under  the  dufe — 
Bat  the  Man  that  doeth  them,  fJjal!  live  in  them.— For  MnWs  defciibeth 
the  Right eoufnefs  which  is  of  the  Law,  that  the  Man  which  doeih  thef^ 
Things,  Poall  live  hy  them. — Which  are  Defcripcions  molt  pr  ■[>cTi\r 
applicable  to  Works  of  the  Moral  Law,  and  feem  more  immediat^'ty 
to  have  them  in  View.----Yet  further,  I  argue  from  the  profcfs'd'Z)?- 
fign  of  Works  being  excluded.  How  is  it  pofiible  to  exclude  all 
Bocijiing,  if  only  Ceremonial  Works  were  excluded  ?  Do  fuch  Works 
only  leave  Room  for  Boafiifig?  Nay,  Cmce  Works  of  the  Ceremonial 
Law  are  but  Matters  of  Indifference  in  themfelves,  how  do  thefe 
contain  any  Grounds  at  all  of  Boafling,  fave  on  the  Account  of  al 
fuppofed  vioral  Goodnefs  in  them  ;  in  virtue  of  their  being  reducible 
to  the  moral  Law,  as  fo  many  Inflances  of  that  general  Duty  here- 
in requir'd,  SubjedHon  to  God's  revealed  Will  ?  Befides,  as  all  the 
World,  Gentiles,  as  well  disjews^zre  equally  concern'd  in  the  Gofpel- 
Scheme  of  Salvation,  why  lliould  it  not  in  this  important  Point  of 
excluding  Works  for  the  fake  of  excluding  Bnafting,  be  interpreted  fa 
as  to  reach  every  one*s  Cafe  ,•  and  comprehend,  not  only  ihofe  at- 
tached to  the  Levitical  Law,  but  even  the  created  Aliens  from  the 
Common-wealth  of  Ifrael,  and  Strangers  from  the  Covenants  of  Promfe, 
knowing  nothing  further  jthan  the  Law  written  on  their  Hearts,  and 
being  (as  the  Scripture  fpeaks)  a  Law  unto  themfelves  ?  And  it  is  tO' 
my  Purpofe,  to  obferve,  fuch  were  the  Ephefians  (not  Jews,  but  Sin- 
ners of  the  Gentiles)  fuch  the  Corinthians,  and  fuch  the  Romans,  to 
whomthe  Apoftle  is  writing  in  the  Epifiles,  whence  I  have  alledged 
the  principal  Texts,  from  which  I  have  been  reafoning  againftyour 
Opinion,  and  which  account  for  their  (as  well  as  the  Jews)  Salva- 
tion as  of  Grace,  and  not  ef  Works.  A  fure  Sign  (I  think)  that  the 
feeming  Virtues  or  moral  Endeavours  of  the  fobereft  Heathen,  and 
by  Confequeocc  the   beil  Works  of  Unrcgmms  Frofeflbrs  ^unc'er 

the 


54-  SpecialGrace  not  promifed 

the  Gofpel,  are  in  the  Apoflle's  Senfe  excluded  for  the  fake  of  ex- 
cluding Boajting;  and  not  yiJiu/Z/jObfervancesonly,  as  isby  fome  pre- 
tended. However,  if  flill  this  Objeftion  (licks  with  any,  I  refer 
them  to  Mr.  Ed-wards  on  Jujlification  (  Pag.  29,  to  50.  )  where  this 
Point  is  difliiidliy  handled,  and  the  Objection  anfwer'd,  I  think,  in 
the  raofh  fatisfa61ory  Manner. 

Now,  Sir,  if  you  are  pleas'd  to  except  againd  theFairnefs  of  my 
Management  in  this  Debate, 

Object.  2.  That  I  make  frequent  Ufe  of  the  Term,  Work?,  ijohkh  is 
$f  a  doubtful  Signification,  without  a  determinate  Idea,  and  without 
any  due  Diflinftion — 

I  anfwer.    That  in   general  by  Works,  in  this    Controverf;,    it 
feems  to  me  agreed  between  us,  are  meant  the  z^^'a.XQni good  Pf^orks 
of  Perfons  not  yet  throughly  converted  to  God,   whom  v/e  ufually 
call  Unregenerate.     And  I  ufe  a  Variety  of  Terms,fuchas  Doings,  En- 
deavours, Seekings,  Strivings,  &c,  becaufel  would  fpeak  comprehen- 
fively,  and  include  all  poiTible  IVorks  of  the  Unregenerate,  which 
you  may  be  difpofed  to  call  good  Works,  and  to  which  you  are  apt  to 
conceive  a  Promife  of  fpecial  Grace  made  in  Scripture. ---Though  I 
often  fpeak  o^  Works  that  appear  to  carry  moral  Excellency  in  them, 
I  don't  mean  to  confine  the  Idea  to  what  is  commonly  call'd  moral 
Honefly,  Sobriety,  focial  Virtue,  or  the  like,  exclufive  of  what   is 
of  the  devotional  Kind,  and  a  more  £?;awgf//Vfl/ Afpedt :  butltakeinto 
the  Idea  and  really  intend  all  thofe  Attainments,  Performances,  and 
Qualifications,  of  whatever  Sort,  that  enter  into  theCharadlerof  any 
Ida.n  feeming  to  be  religious,  but  deceiving  his  own  Heart.     Infhort,  Sir, 
I  include  in  the  Term,  Works,  every  Idea  (i.  e.  every  Idea  that  can 
in  Truth  agree  to  the  Cafe  of  one  not    yet  thoroughly  converted, 
but  ftill  under  the  Dominion  of  Sin)  which  you  have  been  pleas'd  to 
put  into  your  Defcription  (Pag.  25.)  of  the  Man,  whom  you  hold  to 
be  the  Obje6l  of  a  Promife  of  Divine  efficacious  Aid,  or  Jpecial  Grace. 
-—This,  I  think,  is  plain  enough  from  the  Current  of  my  Language 
every  where  through  the  whole  of  what  I  have  faid. 
But  to  proceed— -If  you  objeft  to  me  again. 
Object.   3.   That  I  feem  fometimes  to  infinuate,   as  if  the  Opinion 
held  by  you  in  this  Matter  vjere  too  nearly  connected  zvith  the  Dodtrine 
of  Merit  ;  though  you  have   exprefiy  renounced  all  Pretence  of  Merit  in 
the  prefent  Cafe,  and  therefore  {as  you  imagine)  are  far  from  teaching  or 
fitting  up  that  Boafling,  which  the  Gofpel  defigns  to  exclude—- 
To  this  I  repiv,  in  the  following  Obfervacions, 
I.  That  this   Obje6tion  labours  of  a  grand  Miftake  (  already  fuf- 
iiciently  expos 'd)  as  if  the  Exclufion  of  Merit  ia  Works  were  an 

in  tire 


to  any  Endeavours  of  the  Unregenerati.  55:. 

jntire  Exclufion  of  Boa/ting.  For,  as  we  have  feen,  there  are  other 
Notions  of  thefe  Works,  that  contain  Grounds  of  Boa/ling  (in  the 
Apoftle's  Senfe)  befides  that  of  their  being  meritorious  :  And  it  is 
the  evident  De(ign  of  the  Gofpel  to  exclude  Works  under  every  "No^ 
tion  of  them,  that  (being  admitted)  would  let  in  Boafting. —  How- 
ever, in  Order  to  a  more  full  anfwering  the  Objedlion,  it  feems  ne- 
ceiTury  to  obferve, 

2.  That  the  Word  Merit  is  varioufly  to  be  underftood,  either  in  a 
high  and  jlridt,  or  in  a  lower  and  more  large  Senfe.  You  know  very 
well,  Sir,  the  ufual  Diftin6lion  between  Merit  of  Condignity  and 
Merit  of  Congruity.  And  here  according  to  the  Senfe  in  which 
you  would  be  underftood,  when  you  fay  you  exclude  Merit,  fomutl 
the  Anfwer  be. 

If  we  underfland  Merit  In  the  ahfolute  and  mofl  proper  SenCe,  theiv 
I  fay,  it  mufl  be  a  great  Miftake,  to  fuppofe  that  the  excluding  or 
denying  of  this  only  amounts  to  the  full  Senfe  of  the  Scripture,  when 
it  excludes  Works,  for  the  Sake  of  excluding  Boajling. —-Bat  I  per- 
fuade  my  felf.  Sir,  there's  no  Need  of  arguing  this  foint  with  you.^ 
I  think,  you  nuift  intend    the  lower  Kind  of  Merit,  or  Merit  in   Jhe 
large  Senfe,  when  you  exclude  it  from  the  Works  of  the  Unregene- 
rate.     Now  by  this  Kind  of  Merit,  I  conceive,  muft  be  intended  aD 
leaft  fome  moral  Excellency,  true  Worth inefs,  Goodnefs,  or  Virtue 
in  their  Works,  before  God.     And  is  this.  Sir,  the  Merit,  which  you 
renounce?   Is  the  Exclufion  of  this  Kind  of  Merit  the  juft  Import 
of  your  Expreflions,  where  you  tell  us  (P.  24.)  In  his  (i.  e.  ChriiVs 
Right  we  mufl  plead  (  viz.  for  fpecial  Grace  )  who  has  purchafed  this 
Bern  fit  for  us   ;    and  not  in  the  Firtue  or  Merit  of  any    L'hing  we   do, 
which   we  can  only  humbly    confider  as  meer  ChiaUfications,    &c.     Do 
you  (I  fliy)  really  mean  here  to  difclaim  all  Pretence  of  Merit,  in 
the  lovvell  and  largefl:  Senfe  of  the  Word,  as  above  explain'd  ?   If 
fo,   I  anfwer  then,  there  mufl  be  a   palpable  Inconfijtency  in  your 
Scheme  :    Since  you  ftrenuoufly  infifi:,  throughout  your  Letter,  that 
God  in  difpenfing  his  fpecial  Grace  afts   not  in  the  Charafler  of  an 
abfulute   Proprietor  or  fovereign  Benefaftor,  at  perfeSl   Liberty  ta 
give  or  to  withhold  the  Benefit  as  he  pleafeth,  but  only  in  the  Capa^ 
city  of  a  moral  Governor  and  righteous  Judge  of  the    Behaviour  and  Im- 
provements of  his  Creatures,  and  difpenfing  it  or  not  according  to  their . 
Conduit  in  the  Ufe  of  the  Talent  they've  receivd.     Now,  if  this  be  fo^ 
1  beg  to  be  inform'd  what  that  Behaviour  of  th^  Creature  is,  according 
to  you,  which  is  thus  the  Rule  of  God's  Difpenfation  in  this  Matter. 
Can  it  be  any  other  than   a  true  ?noral  Behaviour,  in  its  formal  Ni- 
sure,  plcafing  to  God  ?  Is  ic  poffible,  that   the  Creature's  Behaviour 

ihuuld 


^6  Special  Grace  «of  promijed 

:fiio«ld  pafs  the  Teft  with  him  as  a  moral  Governor  ^nd  righteous  Judge ; 
and  yet  ac  the  fame  Time  not  have  any  true  7noral  Goodnefs  in  ic  !. 
V\^hich  it  cannot  have,  and  fo  cannot  have  the  lower  Kind  of  Merit, 
Worthinefs,  or  recommending  Excellency,  unlefs  it  be  as  well  for- 
mafly,  as  materially  good.  How  evidently  impofuble  the  Cafe  !  And 
how  abfurd  the  Sappofition  !  For  a  Thing  to  be,  and  not  to  be,  at 
the  fame  Time  and  in  the  fame  Refpeft,  is  fcarce  a  greater  Con- 
iradi6lioTi. 

Now  fince  there  is  this  notorious  Incoherence  in  your  Scheme,  and 
both  Parts  of  a  Contradiftion  can't  be  true,  one  of  the   repugnant 
Principles  you  mufl  certainly  give  up.     And  give  up  which  you  will, 
for  ought  I  can  fee,  your  Scheme  muft  fall  with  it.     For  if  you  pare 
with  your  Principle,  of  God\<r  acting  in  this  Affair  as  a  moral  Governor 
Mfid  righteous  Judge  of  his  Creatures  Behaviour  andImprove?nents,  making 
this  the  Rule  according  to  which  he  difpenfeth  his //?^da/Grac5  to  the 
fallen  Creature  ,•  I  fay,  if  you  give  up  this  Point,  it  mufl  then  una- 
voidably follow,  that  God  herein  a6ls  only  as  an  abfolute  Proprietor 
and  fovereign  Benefa^or  :     which  being  all  that  Mr.  Cooke  or  I  con- 
tend for,  there's  an  End  of  the  Debate.     Or,  if  you  give  up  the  other 
Principle  (which  you  fay  you  allow  )  of  the  fallen  Creatures  pleading 
(viz.  for  Special  Grace)  Meerly  in  the  Virtue  of  what  Christ  hath  done 
for  usy  or  in  Right  of  his  Purchafe,  and  not  at  all  in  the  Virtue  or  Merit 
»f  any  Thing  we  do  ;     1  fay,  if  you  relinquifh  this  Point,  then  it  fol- 
lows, for  ought  I  can  fee,  that  you  mufl  afTert  a  fort  of  Merit  or 
Worthinefs,  even  in  the  JVoiks  of  an  unregenerate  Man,  who  is  in- 
terefled  hereby  in  a  Promife,  which  paffes  over  to  him  a  Right  to 
fpecial  Grace,  pleadable  before  God.     But  what  a  vain  Imagination  is 
this  (as  (hewn  before)  and  how  contrary  to  the  whole  Tenor  of  the 
Scriptures  !----In  fhort,  when  you  profefs  to  allow,  that  we  are  not 
at  all  to  plead  in  the  Virtue  or  Merit  of  any  Thing  we  do,  your   Mean- 
ing mufl  be,  either  to  teach  us,  that  although  in  Fad:  there  is  true 
Virtue  or  Merit  in  our  Doings,  fome  moral  Goodnefs  or  Worthinefs; 
which  fpeaks  them  proper  Qualifications  for  the  Benefit  of  fpecial 
Grace,  and  although  the  actual  Subjeft  of  thefe  Qualifications  has  a 
Right  to  this   Grace  palled  over  to  him  by  God's  Promife,   yet  ne- 
verthelefs  that  we  mull  not  plead  this  Right,   when  asking  for  the 
promis'd  Benefit ;  in  v/hich  View  of  your  Words,  you  renounce,  no!: 
the  Virtue  or  Merit  of  what  we  do,  but  only  the  making  it  a  Plea.--  A 
poor  lean  Conceflion  \  and  not  half  enough,  to  clear  you  of  fetting 
up  that  Boa  fling,  which  the  Gofpel   excludes.— Oc,  if  you  mean  any 
Thing  further,  it  muft  be  to  renounce,  either  the  very  Being  of  this 
Virtue  6r  Merit  in  the  unregenerate  Man's  Doings,  or  elfe  ^only  the 

Right 


to  any  Endeavours  of  tbe  Unregenerate.'  5^7, 

Right  pafTed  over  to  him  in  the  Promifey  and  made  fure  to  him  by 
Means  of  fuch  his  virtuous  and  'worthy  Doings.  Now,  if  we  take  your 
Words  in  the  latter  Senfe,  it  will  be  palpably  inconfiftenc  with  the 
whole  Scope  of  your  Letter  :  And  it  in  the  former  Senfe,  this  too 
will  be  inconfjftent  with  the  many  Expreffions,  wherein  you  feem 
evidently  to  fuppofe  a  Degree  of  moral  Excellency  and  formal  Good- 
nefs,  or  acceptable  Obedience  to  God,  in  the  Doings  and  Endea- 
vours of  the  Man  folicitous  for  Salvation^  though  not  yet  throughly  con- 
verted.-"Bi\tySiv,  if  we  would  be  intirely  confident  with  the  Gofpel, 
which  utterly  excludes  all  Boafting,  we  mud  teach  the  Sinner,  not 
meerly  to  forbear  pleading  in  Virtue  or  Merit  of  any  Thing  he  does, 
but  likewife  to  renounce  the  Virtue  or  Merit  it  felf,  even  all  of  the 
lower  kind,  and  in  the  large  Senfe  of  the  Words.  Otherwife,  as 
I've  already  argu'd,  that  Boafting,  whicli  the  Gofpel  fliuts  out  caq 
never  effefiually  be  excluded  :  but  there  will  always  lie  in  the  Sinner's 
way  a  very  invincible  Temptation,  to  trujt  in  himfelf  that  he  is  righteous, 
or  to  look  to  be  faved  by  Works  of  Right eoufnefs ,  which  he  hath  done,  and 
not  according  to  God's  Mercy,  by  the  Wajhing  of  Regeneration. — Ne- 
verthelefs  what  faith  the  Scripture  P  Not  of  fVorks,  left  any  Man 
pjould  boaft.  . 

The  Inconfiftency  here  urged  againfl  your  Principles,  I  acknow- 
ledge. Sir,  is  nothing  peculiar  to  you:  but  is  common  to  thofein  the 
Arminian  Scheme.  They  all  profefs  wholly  to  difclaim  the  Plea  of 
Merit,  in  the  Cafe  before  us  ;  and  yet  they  aflert,  with  you,  God's 
difpenfing  his  efficacious  Jid  or  fpecial  Grace,  not  as  an  abfolute  fo- 
vereign  Benefaftor,  but  as  a  moral  Governor  and  righteous  Judge  of  the 
Behaviour  and  Improvements  of  his  Creatures :  A  Principle,  1  think,  ne- 
ceflarily  implying  the  Suppofition  of  fome  inherent  tniemoral  Excel- 
lency in  the  Sinner's  Doings ;  which  is  Merit,  of  the  lower  kind.  And 
this  IVorthinefs  they  hold  (with  you)  to  be  the  Qualification  for  re- 
ceiving oi  fpecial  Grace  :  to  which  Grace  they  alfo  with  you  afTert  a 
Right,  by  God's  Promife,  palTed  over  to  the  Man  fo  qualified.  Tho' 
in  fome  Senfe  they  renounce  the  Do6lrine  of  Merit,  yet  they  fpeak 
of  the  Grace  of  God  even  in  the  firfl  fpecial  Inftance,  as  zjlipulat- 
ed  Good  and  of  the  unrenew'd  M^n's  Endeavours  (whillT:  fuch)  as  the 
Covenant-Condition,  &c.  Which,  at  lead,  feems  to  be  fettingup  a  Me- 
rit of  Congruity.  Thus,  Sir,  in  common  with  you,  thofe  in  the  Jr-^^ 
minian  Scheme  advance  Opinions  mutually  repugnant,  and  build  again 
the  Things  which  they  had  deftroyd. 

Jn  brief.  Sir, You  and  they  may  foften  your  Lingyageasyoupleafe, 
and  ba  it  as  it  will  in  the  point  of  Confiilency  with  yowfehes,  yet  fp 
long  as  you  are  for  a  Method  of  Grace,  according  to  the  Scheme  de- 

".  H  fended 


58  Special  Grace  not  prom  i/ed 

fended  in  your  Letter,  as  ic  appears  from  what  has  been  faid,  that 
you  do  in  Reah't}'',  include  and  abett  that  Glorying  or  Boajiing,  which 
the  Gofpel  of  Reconciliation  forever  excludes,  I  mufl  think  you  fo  far 
not  confluent  wi:h  the  Scripture.     The  Scripture  fays,  A^of  byJVorks 
of  Righteouftiefs  which  ive  have  done,  but  according  to  his  Mercy  Godfav- 
ed  us.     And  again,  Ho  hath  faved  us,  and  called  us  with  an  holy  Calling, 
not  according  to  our  l'P''orks,  but  according  to  his  own  Purpofe  and  Grace. 
Whereas,  your  Scheme  tells  us,  on  the  contrary.  That  although  com- 
mon Grace  be  ahfolutely  given,  yet  fpecial  Grace,  by  which  only  we 
are  effedlually  called  and   faved,  is  not  given  abfolutely,  in  a  fove- 
reign  Manner,  but  in  a  federal  Way,  in  Correfpondence  with  certain 
Divine  Promifes  and  Stipulations,  by  which  God  has  pafled  over  to  us 
a  Right,  at  leajla  conditional  Right  to  the  promifed  BlelTing,  and  which 
he  executes  as  a  moral  Governor  and,  righteous  Judge  of  his   Creatures 
Behaviour  and  Improvements,  adjufting   his   Difpenfations  of  faving 
Grace  by  the  Ufe  they  have  made  of  the  Talent  committed  to  them,  &c. 
Of  all  which  'Jalk  1  can  make  no  other  Confhru6lion,  but  this ;  Not 
according  to  his  own  Purpofe  and  Grace,  hut  according  to  our  JVorks,  He 
falls  us,  and  fives  us,  i.  e.  initially  :  Which  is  the  very  Reverfe  of 
the  Scripture-Account  of  the  true  Method  of  Grace. — But  it  may 
be,  you  will  be  for  compounding  the  Matter;     and  fay,  that  it  is  ac- 
cording to  both  Grace  and  PForks  together  ;  and  that  when  Salvati- 
on is  afcrib'd  to  Grace,  or  deny'd  to  P/orks,  fuch  Scripture-ExpreiTi- 
ons  are  not  to  be  underfbood  abfolutely,  as  if  it  were   of  Grace  in 
sn  exclufive  Senfe,   or  as  if  it  were  not  of  M^orks  in  a  fubordinate 
Senfe  :     for  it  may  be  of  both  in  different  Refpefts,    concurring 
and  uniting  in  this  Affair  ,•     and  fo  far  as  it  is  of  the  latter  'ti?, 
only  as  this  has   the  Place  of  a  Condition  in  che  Promife  of  fpecial 
Grace.— 'V>i\i  for  Anfwer,  Imuft  own  (Sir)  for  my  parr,  I  cou'd  never 
lell  how  to  reconcile  this  Notion  to  thofe  exprefs  Words  of  the  A- 
poftle  :  If  by  Grace,  then  is  it  no  more  of  Works  :     But  if  it  be  of 
Works,  then  is  it  no  more  Grace.     According  to  the  Apoftle  here,ic 
feems.  Works  and  Grace  can't  be  fo  blended  together,  as  you  may 
apprehend,  in  this  Affair  of  Sinners  being  brought  into  a  State  of  Sal- 
vation.    Becaufe,  for  Salvation  to  ht  by  Grace,  and  to  be  of  Works; 
or  (which  means  the  fame)  to  he  according  to  God's  Purpofe  and  Grace, 
and  to  be  according  to  our  Works,  i.  e.  fuppofed  Works  of  Rigbteoufnefs 
antecedent  to  Regeneration  ;  thefe  are  real  Contraries,  mutually  ex- 
pelling each  other,  fo  that  if  the  one  takes  Place,  the  other  of  Con- 
fequence  is  excluded,     Otherwife  Grace  is  no  more  Grace  :  or.  Other- 
mfe  Work  is  no  more  Work.     Here  the  Apoftle  teaches  us  thus  much, 
at  leafl; ;  That  to  fuppofe  Salvation  to  be  of  Works,  is  to  deftroy  the 

Nature 


fo  ^fjy  Endeavours  ^  r^5  Unregeneuate.    s9 

Nature  or  deny  the  Being  of  Grace  :  and  on  the  contrary,  to  fup- 
pofe  it  to  be  by  Grace,  is  to  deftroy  the  Nature  or  deny  the  Being 
of  fVorks.  How  then  can  thefe  unalterable  Oppofites  poffibly  be  made 
to  agree  in  this  Affair  ?  The  Attempt  is  vain,  and  will  be  found  an 
eternal  Impoffibility,  {o  long  as  the  Gofpel  excludes  fVorks  in  the 
Manner  it  does,  with  a  View  to  fecure  the  Honour  of  God's  Grace,  ■ 
and  intirely  remove  every  Ground  oiMzn'sBoaJling.  ForfomeGround 
of  ^o-^y^m^  will  remain,  fo  long  as  Salvation  is  imagin'J  to  be  of  Works, 
whether  in  Regard  of  any  true  moral  Worthinefs  in  them,  or  any 
conditional  Right  annexed  to  them,  which  God  as  a  moral  Governor  is 
fuppofedto  aft  in  Confideration  of,  when  he  beftows  his  Jpecial Grace 
on  the  fallen  Creature.  If  Works  of  an  unregenerate  Man,  whilft 
fuch,  be  allow'd  the  Power  of  a  fufpending  Condition,  or  That  to 
which  a  Promife  of  converting  Grace  is  made,  in  Virtue  where- 
of a  Right  to  it  is  pafTed  over  to  him,----ihis  is  fuch  a  Scheme  as 
flatters  the  natural  Pride  of  his  Heart,  leads  to  a  Claim  of  Merit 
(at  lead  of  the  lower  kind)  and  opens  a  wide  Door  to  Boajiing  and 
Fain- glory. 

But,  if  it  be  further  objefted  here. 

Object.  4.  That,  granting  the  Works  of  Unregenerate  Men,  (fuppos'd 
morally  good)  to  be  by  the  Gofpel,  for  the  fake  of  excluding  Boafting, 
all  of  them  excluded  from  being  (under  that  Notion)  the  Ccnditiony  to 
ijohich  a  Promife  of  fpecial  Grace  is  made  ;  and  granting,  that  to  make 
Works  conditional  in  this  Cafe,  as  confider'd  under  that  Notion, 
laouJd  be  to  efiahlifh  that  Boalling,  ivhich  the  Gofpel  excludes  :  yet  it 
will  by  no  Means  follow  upon  thefe  Conceffions,  that  the  Hypothefis  of 
their  being  made  conditional,  is  fo  effentially  conne^ed  with  and  fo  intirely 
founded  in  that  Notion  of  them,  as  that  we  cannot  rationally  fuppofe  them 
confider'd,  in  the  conditional  Promife  under  fome  other  Rsfped;  or  f^iew, 
fairly  confflent  with  the  perfect  EkcIuCiou  of  Boafting. 

For  Anfwertothisplaufible  Pretence,  it  may  fuffice  to  fay  in  brief; 
-—I  know  of  none  that  deny  God's  afting  in  this  Affair  as  a  fo- 
vereign  Proprietor  and  abfolute  Benefaftor,  who  do  not  at  the  fame 
Time  affert  his  afting  in  it  as  a  moral  Governor  and  righteous  Judge 
of  the  Behaviour  of  his  Creatures.  But  how  is  it  pofTible,  He  fliould 
aft  in  this  laff  Charafter,  without  refpeBing  at  all  the  moral  Goodnefs 
of  their  Behaviour  ?  Can  he  be  fuppos'd,  while  afting  in  this  Ca- 
pacity, and  fo  neceffarily  having  an  Eye  to  his  Rule  of  Goverr- 
ment,  yet  to  have  no  Eye  to  the  Goodnefs  of  that  Behaviour,  in  poinc 
of  its  Conformity  to  his  preceptive  Will,  although  it  be  the  efta- 
bliili'd  Condition,  on  which  l^e  has  fufpended  his  Promife  of  fpecial 
Grace  ?  If  che  Behaviour  have  true  moral  Excellency  in  it,  why  (hould 

noc 


6o  Special   Grace  Ko^  promlfed 

not  this  be  both  refpefted  in  the  conditional  Promife,  and  ey'd  by 
him  in  his  Execution  of  it  ?----Nor  am  I  able  to  conceive  what  other 
pojjibk  Notion  of  Men's  Behaviour,  any  can  fuppofe  refpe^ed  in  mak- 
ing this  Conditional  oi  the  ^xomWd  BlefTing,  but  what,  if  receiv'd  and 
afted  upon,  will  certainly,  be  inconfiflent  (as  well  as  that  of  moral 
Goodnefs)  with  the  intire  and  abfolute  Exclufion  of  Boafting,  in  a  Gof- 
pel- Account.— To  reduce  the  Controverfy  here  to  an  IfTue,  I  wou'd 
a  little  further  argue  the  Point,  after  I  have  obferv'd,  That  in  what- 
ever other  View  or  Notion  PForks  may  poffibly  be  confider'd  in  this 
Affair,  yet  if  the  Notion  of  their  moral  Goodnefs  be  at  all  taken  in, 
it  feems  to  me  impoffible  perfedlly  to  exclude  Boafting.     I  fay  then. 
Either  this  Notion  of  moral  Goodnejs,  in  the  Works  of  Unregenerate 
Men  is  quite  excluded  from  this  Affair  of  their  being  made    Conditi- 
onal of  the  Beftowment  of  fpecial  Grace  :  Or  it  is  not  quite  exclu- 
ded.-—Now,  if  you  aflume,  and  fay,  That  this  Notion  of  them  is 
intirely  excluded,  i.  e.  if  you  give  up  the  Point  of  their  moral  Goodnefs, 
and  allow  that  there  is  nothing  of  true  Re^itude  or  godly  Sincerity  in 
the  beft  Endeavours  of  the  Man  (according  to  your  Defcription)  in 
a  middle  State,  neither  relentlefs  nor  yet  thoroughly  converted  :  To  this 
I  reply,  that  upon  fuch  a  View  of  the   Cafe  it  don't  appear  to  me 
in  the  leaffc  rational,  to  fuppofe  Endeavours  of  this  Kind  made  condi'  ■ 
tional  in  a  Divine  Promife,  upon  any  e^/;^r  Notion  of  them  whatever. 
If  God  in  difpeniing  fpecial  Grace  to  fuch  a  Man,  does  at  all  refpe61: 
his  Endeavours,  as  the  Confideration  upon  which  he  a6ls,  Pie  muft  (I 
think)refpe6l  them  either  as  morally  good,  or  wot.---Butnow  to  fyppoie- 
Him  a£ting  herein  upon  the  Confideration  of  Works  nof  morally  good, 
is  to  fuppofe  a  Thing  that  has  no  Congruity  with  the  Idea  of  a  mo- 
ral Governor  and  righteous  Judge.     If  you  don't  maintain   the  Being 
of  fome  true  moral  Re6btude  and  godly  Sincerity  in  thefe  Doings  of 
the  ftriving  Sinner,  while  you  plead  for  their  Conditionahty,  methinks 
you  had  better  divejl  them  of  this  too,  in  Honour  to  God's  reftoral 
Holinefs,  rather  than  fuppofe  Him  annexing  a  great  and  precious 
Promife  to  a  morally  unfit  Condition,  or  difpenfing  a  promifed  Bleffing 
without  refpefting  any  Goodnejs  in  his  Creature's  Behaviour,  tho'  made 
the   Rule  of  his   Adminiftration.     I  cannot  but  think  it  infinitely 
more  honorary  to  God,  to   fuppofe  with  us,  that  in  this  Affair  of 
difpenfing  fpecial  Grace  to  the  Unregenerate,  He  afts  zszfovereign 
Benefaetor,  out  of  abfolute,  and  (meaning  in  Oppofitionto  your  con- 
ditional Promife)  out  of  unpromifed,  and  irrefpeftive  Mercy,  accord- 
in<y  to  the  meer  good  Pleafure  of  his  IVill     I  think,  you  mufl  be  oblig  d 
to  come  to  this  Conclullon,  if  you  renounce  all  Pretence  of  moral 
Goodnefs  in  the  Condition  you  plead  for  j   fmce,  without  your  lup- 


ii^ 


to  any  Endeavours  of  the  Unre generate.  6r 

pofing  fome  true  moral  Excellency  in  the  Creatures  Behaviour,  I  don't  fee 
howyoucanpoflibly  reconcile  its  being  a  Divinely  eftablifli'd  CowJmow 
in  this  Affair  with  the  Idea  of  God  as  a  moral  Governor  and  righteous 
Judge."But  after  all,  it  may  be  you  will  on  the  other  hand  alTLime,  and 
fay,  That  you  allow  of  fome  true  7noral  Goodnefs  in  thefe  Doings  of 
the  feeking  ftriving  Sinner,  though  not  yet  intirely  devoted  to  God 
in  Chrift,  and  allow  their  being  (at  leaft  partly)  under  that  Notion 
made conditional'm  the  Cafe  before  us.  Now  if  fo  you  affume,  then 
I  anfwer.  That  whatever  other  Notion  you  may  imagine  refpeiSled  in 
making  the  Sinners  Endeavours  conditional  of  the  Beflowment  of 
fpecial  Grace,  and  however  confident  you  may  fuppofe  that  to  be 
with  the  Exclufion  of  Boafting ;  Yet  if  this  Notion  of  moral  Good- 
nefs be  at  all  admitted  in  the  Cafe,  fome  Ground  of  Boafting  cer- 
tainly remains,  which  (as  we  have  feen)  the  Gofpel-Scheme  Sal- 
vation intirely  excludes,  and  with  a  View  to  the  Exclufion  of  this 
does  exclude  all  fForks  that  contain  any  Grounds  of  Boaflingy  as  do 
thefe  pretended  good  Works,  done  before  converting  Grace,  and 
made  conditional  of  it.  —  In  fhorr,  the  Gofpel  (as  often  obferved) 
excludes  fuch  Works,  for  the  fake  of  excluding  Boafting.  It  excludes 
Works,  denies  their  very  Being  or  Exiftence,  under  the  Notion  of 
gcod  Works,  and  confequently  denies  their  Conditionality  :  which  is, 
to  all  Intents  and  Purpofes,  fufficiently  to  exclude  Boafting. — 
Whereas  now  your  Scheme,  which  fets  up  Works  of  the  Unregene- 
rate  for  a  Condition  in  the  Covenant  of  Grace,  does  on  the  contrary 
fuppofe  the  a6tual  Exiftence  of  good  Works  before  Converfion,  and 
claims  a  peculiar  Honour  for  them  in  the  Affair  of  Man's  Salva- 
tion :  which  certainly  leaves  Room  for  that  Boafting,  the  Gofpel 
defigns  to  exclude.- - -If  afiQV  all  I  have  ofFer'd  from  Scripture  you 
ftill  difpute  there  being  any  Ground  of  Boafting,  In  this  Cafe,  I  will 
offer  this  plain  Argument  from  Reafon,  for  your  Convidlion.-^-For 
the  fallen  Creature,  not  yet  renewed  in  the  Spirit  of  his  Mind,  but 
under  the  Dominion  and  Guilt  of  Sin  (as  is  the  Cafe  of  the  ftriving 
Sinner  according  to  your  own  Defcription)  for  this  Man  (I  fay)  to 
entertain  an  Opinion  of  moral  Re6titude  and  true  Goodnefs  in  ^ny  of 
his  Doings  or  Improvements,  is  to  entertain  a  falfe  Opinion  of 
his  own  Excellence  :  and  fo  far  as  he  does  this,  he  is  undoubtedly 
proud  and  high-minded,  in  the  Account  of  the  Gofpel.  And  now  for 
this  Man,  this  poor  empty  vain  Man,  thus  puffed  up  with  a  faife 
Conceit  of  his  own  Doings,  to  ftamp  them  with  the  dignifying  Cha- 
rafter  of  Conditions  in  God's  Covenant  of  Grace  palfing  over  to 
hini  a  Right  to  promifed  BlelTings,  This  is  what,  I  think,  includes 
in  its  effential  Idea  that  very  Boafting^  which  the  Gofpel  excludes  ; 

or 


62  Special  Grace  «of  promifed 

or  at  leafl,  you  mufl:  allow,  this  leaves  large  Room  for  it,  and  lays 
in  the  Sinner's  Way  a  powerful  Temptation  to  this  Soul-ruining 
moral  Evil.  -—  Upon  thefe  Grounds,  f  leave  it  (Sir)  with  you  to 
confider  ferioiifly  whether  you  are  nor,  fo  far  as  you  have  been 
ietting  up  and  pleading  for  this  Opinion  and  this  Chara^er  of  the  Un- 
regenerate  Man's  Doings,  juflly  chargeable  with  fetting  up  and 
pleading  for  that  fame  Boa/iing,  which  the  Gofpel-Scheme  of  Salva- 
tion has  mofl:  abfolutely  excluded,  or  deny'd  any  Place  to  in  this 
i\fFair  :  as  we  have  feen  from  a  Variety  of  Scriptures.  And  the 
Con{tru6lion  I  have  made  of  the  facred  Text,  I  doubt  not  might 
eafily  be  confirm'd  from  the  Articles  and  Homilies  of  your  own 
Church,  from  the  concurrent  SsnCe  of  the  Englifh  Reformers,  from 
the  publick  ConfefTions  of  the  foreign  Proteftant  Churches,  &c. 
which  would  all  come  in  as  a  Cloud  of  IVitneJfes  on  ray  Side  of  the 
Queflion.     But  I  wave  human  Authorities,  in  the  prefent  Debate. 

Thus,  Sir,  while  you  rife  fo  high  in  your  uncandid  Reflcflions 
upon  Mr.  Cooke  and  others  with  him,  as  even  to  tax  them  of  cor- 
rupting the  Simplicity  of  the  Gofpel,  you  fee  for  what  Reafons  I 
think  the  Imputation,  (black  as  it  is)  rebounds  on  your  own  Head. 
For  it  mud  needs  be  a  warping  from  the  true  Scheme  of  Salvation, 
and  fo  far  a  corrupting  the  Gofpel,  to  fet  up  that  guilty  Boajling, 
which  is  here  condemned  and  excluded. — But  this  Matter  mud  on 
the  whole  be  fubmitted  to  others  impartial  Judgment.  However, 
in  the  mean  Time,  I  cannot  refrain  making  here  a  fliorc  Remark 
on  the  obvious  Tendency  of  your  Opinion  in  the  prefent  Point,  and 
of  what  you  have  offered  in  Defence  of  it,  to  check  the  Concern 
and  to  flifle  the  Convi6lions  of  awakened  Sinners  which  you  muft 
confefs  of  dangerous  Confequence.  I  readily  confefs  the  Scheme 
you  have  advanced  is  what  Fle/h  and  Blood  will  not  be  likely  to  take 
much  Offence  at,  but  it  would  rather  afford  a  pleafing  Entertain- 
ment to  the  fallen  Creature,  and  be  likely  to  bear  down  and  keep 
under  his  rifing  Fears  from  time  to  time,  to  footh  and  hufli  his  ac- 
cufing  Confcience,  and  while  in  Heart  really  purfuing  the  World 
as  his  chief  Good,  yet  to  flatter  him  with  the  Hopes  of  his  finally 
obtaining  Heaven  too  ;  as  having  the  Grace  cf  God  well  fecured  to 
him  by  a  conditional  Promife,  and  brought  hereby  as  it  were  within 
the  Command  of  his  own  Endeavours  and  Improvements.  —  Allow 
me,  Sir,  to  obferve,  'Tis  no  Wonder  at  all  therefore,  if  in  a  Time 
when  Religion  runs  loia  among  a  People  (as  it  ever  will  upon  an 
awful  Sufpenfion  of  a  fpecial  Divine  Influence)  Multitudes  of  the 
World  ^o  over  to  a  Self  pleafing  Opinion,  and  ridicule  the  Notion 
of  any  Danger  by  it.     However,  this  we  are  well  affured  of,  that 

ac- 


to  any  l^ndeavours  of  iDe  u  nregenerate.  63 

according  as  the  PTork  of  God  has  been  revhed,  time  after  time,  fo 
that  the  Truth  at  the  fame  Time  revived  and  prevailed  :  and  it  is 
remarkable,  through  all  the  Viciffitudes  that  have  pafled  over  the 
Church,  this  imporcanc  Truth  which  I  am  now  pleading  for,  has 
been  preferved  alive,  at  leafl:  in  the  inconteftible  Grounds  of  it,  in 
all  the  publick  Confejjhns  of  the  Reformed,  from  Age  to  Age  ;  nor 
has  the  contrary  Error  ever  to  this  Day,  that  I  can  learn,  obtained 
a  Place  in  fo  much  as  one  publick  Confellion  of  Faith,  avow'd  in  any 
Proteflant  Church.  And  this  is  our  Confolation,  amidft  all  Dangers 
threatning  the  Truth  in  a  Day  of  Degeneracy,  that  Hill  the  Spirit  of 
Truth  has  the  fame  Power  and  the  fame  Grace  as  ever,  and  will  not 
let  the  Word  of  Truth  in  any  Iota  of  it  utterly  fail  and  perilh,  buc 
will  fecure  it  in  the  Mouth  and  Heart  of  all  that  are  Chrifi'Sy  as  to 
the  great  Matters  of  it  efpecially. 

And  here,  Sir,  I  might  well  enough  conclude  :  relying  on  whac 
has  already  been  faid,  as  fufficient  to  the  Purpofe  of  confirming  Mr. 
Cooke's  two  Arguments,  which  I  undertook  to  defend.  But  I  mufl: 
beg  your  Patience  a  little  longer,  whilfl  I  add  an  Argument  or  two, 
that  are  of  a  more  general  Extent,  and  of  no  fmall  Weight  with  7ns 
in  this  Controverfy,  and  whilfl:  I  give  you  a  few  further  Confidera- 
tions  on  fome  Pafljges  of  your  Letter,  which  hicherto  I've  not  found 
a  Place  for. 

OnQ  Argument,  in  particular,  that  I  would  a  while  infill  on,  is  this. 
Jf  any  Endeavours  of  the  Unregenerate,  under  the  Dominion  and  Guilt 
of  Sin,  as  they  are^  be  the  Condition,  to  -which  fpecial  Grace  is  promif- 
ed,  thefe  mufl  be  fuppofed  fo,  either  as  Dom^i- acceptable  and  pleafinp- 
to  God,  or  elfe  as  difpleafing  and  offenfive  to  him.  (For  I  know  of 
no  Medium.)  But,  under  neither  of  thefe  Fiews  of  them,  can  thefe  En- 
deavours be  the  Condition,  to  which  fpecial  Grace  is  promifed.--- 

I.  Not  under  the  Notion  of  their  being  acceptable  ^nd  pleafmg  to 
God  ,•  becaufe  there  is  no  Foundation  in  Truth  for  fuch  a  Notion 
of  them.-— For  the  Scripture  moft  exprefly  alTures  us,  Rom.  8.  8. 
They  that  are  in  the  Flefh  cannot  pleafe  God.  By  them  that  are  in  the 
Flepj,  I  underfl:and,  not  meerly  the  obftinate  relentlefs  Sinner,  but  alfo 
the  Man  you  defcribe,  who  though  ferioujly  concerned  to  become  renew- 
ed in  the  Spirit  of  his  Mind,  yet  is  not  throughly  converted  from  Sin  to 
God,  fuch  an  one,  not  having  the  Spirit  of  Chrifl,  flill  in  the  Flefl,  or 
under  the  Government  of  a  fefhly  Mind.  Whatever  fair  Sheiv  in 
the  FlefJj  he  make,  yet  under  all  his  feemingly  Religioufnefs  he  is  ia 
Truth  carnally  minded :  The  Fleflj  is  his  predominant  Principle.  And 
indeed,  Sir,  as  you  yourfelf  have  conceded,  the  Man  you  defcribe 

is 


64  S  p  E  c  I  A  L  G  R  A  c  E  «ot  promijed 

is  under  the  Dominion  of  Sin.  Now  fiich  a  one,  fays  the  Scripture, 
6annot  pleafe  Goi.----Agreeably  we  are  told,  Heb.  ii.  6.  Without 
Faithy  it  is  impojfible  to  pUafe  God.  None,  I  think,  can  doubt  of  its 
being  Faith  unfeigned,  fiich  as  is  a  believing  with  the  Heart  unto  Righ- 
icoufnefs,  that  is  here  intended  :  Nor  can  it  be  doubted  whether 
all  that  are  under  the  Dominion  of  Sin,  are  utterly  dellitute  of  this 
Faith  ;  withouc  which  'tis  impojjible  to  pleafe  God.-— I  might  alfo 
produce  here  thofe  Sayings  and  Reafonings  of  our  Saviour,  in  Mat. 
7.  17,  i8.  and  in  Chap.  12.  33,  34,  35.  and  in  Luk.  16.  12.  So 
Jam.  3.  12.  with  many  other  'Texts  might  be  cited,  that  clearly 
hold  forth  the  Truth  I  am  upon.— -And  1  am  perfuaded,  that  the 
Senje  I  take  thefe  Scriptures  in,  agreeable  to  my  Purpofe,  has  the 
approving  Suffrage  of  all  Protejtant  Churches  in  their  publick  Confef- 
fionscf  Faith  ;  not  excepting  even  the  Formulas  of  your  own  Church, 
as  before  obferv'd.  And  here  1  could  readily  turn  you  to 
many  Paffages,  full  to  my  Defign,  in  your  Articles,  and  Homilies^  if 
not  your  Liturgy  too.  But  for  Brevity  I  omit  it  at  prefent.— -And 
now,  Sir,  if  the  Reverend  Compilers  of  your  own  publick  Standards, 
with  other  eminent  Reformers,  agreed  to  that  Conflru6lion  of  the 
facred  Text,  which  our  Author,  whom  you  oppofe,  has  efpoufed,  I 
pray,  conlider  Whom  your  Refiediions  upon  him  and  thofe  on  his 
Side  of  the  Qtieftion,  are  equally  applicable  to.  Do  you  indeed. 
Sir,  think  that  thefe  excellent  Divines  all  built  on  empty  Cobwebs,— 
torturd  the  plaineft  Texts, — &c^  &c.  to  favour  a  preconceiv'd  humane 
Scheme,  not  founded  on  the  holy  Scriptures,  wherein  it  was  peculiar, 
i.  e.fofar  as  it  agreed  not  with  the  Scheme  of  thofb  on  your  Side  in 
this  Controverfy  !--- 

But  I  return  from  this  Digreflion,    and  go   on  with  the  Argu- 
ment.  How  is  it  poffible.  Sir,  that   the   Unregenerate  Man's 

Doings  fhould  be  pleafing  to  God,  fo  long  as  his  Perfon,  as  under 
the  Dominion  and  Guilt  of  Sin,  is  both  odious  to  the  Divine  Holi- 
nefs,  and  obnoxious  to  revenging  Juftice  ?  Or  how  is  it  poffible, 
fmce  he  is  not  vitally  and  favingly  united  to  Chrift,  and  fo  not  aftu- 
ally  interefled  in  the  Merits  of  the  Mediator,  by  whom  only  we 
have  Accefs  to  the  Father,  that  any  of  the  Sinner's  Doings  fhould 
be  plealing  to  God  ?  For,  zre  we  not  accepted  in  the  Beloved?  And 
are  not  the  very  SdXni's  fpiritual  Sacrifices  only  acceptable  to  God  by 
Jefus  Chrifi  ?  How  then  can  you  imagine  the  Unregenerate  Man's 
Doings  acceptable,  while  he  does  not  come  to  God  by  the  Mediator, 
nor  has  him  an  Advocate  for  him  jjvith  the  Father  ?  And  if  youcon- 
fider  the  infinite  Contrariety  there  is  between  the  Purity  of  the  Di- 
vine Nacure,  and  the  polluted  Doings  of  the  moft  refin'd  Creature 

under 


to  any  Endeavours  p/ fi^^  unrecenerate.  05 

cnder  Sins  Dominiony  how  can  you  conceive  it  poflible,  that  any  the 
bell;  Endeavours  of  fuch  a  Creature  (hould  be  pleafing  to  God  ?  How 
can  he  be  fuppofed,  in  any  fair  Confidence  with  his  unfpotted  Holi- 
nefs,  to  a6t  in  Charafter  of  a  moral  Governor  and  Righteous  Judge  of 
the  Behaviour  of  his  Creature,  even  while  anfwering  Sinners  Cries  for 
Mercy,  fince  their  very  beft  Devotions,  as  void  of  all  true  Faith  cLud 
godly  Sincerity,  mufl  needs  appear,  at  the  Bottom,  but  felfijh,  carnal 
and  impure'm  his  Sight  ?--Whatever  Aids  of  the  Holy  Spirit  ("uch  may 
experience,  yet  while  under  the  Dominion  of  Sin  it  is  impoffible  in 
the  Nature  of  Things,  that  fuch  with  all  the  Help  of  Divine  com- 
mon Grace  (hould  be  able  to  pleafe  God  in  the  Manner  of  their  per- 
forming any  Duty. "-Nor  can  it  be  pleaded,  that  however  finfuland 
unworthy  the  Performances  of  fuch  are  in  thernfelvesy  yet  God  may 
zccept  them  for  Chriji's  fake.  No;  for,  notwithftanding  the  Redeem- 
er's Merits  and  Purchafe,  there  is  a  wife  Scheme  or  Method  provid- 
ed for  the  ^application  of  Redeeming  Grace  :  and  according  to  the 
Scripture-Account  of  this,  there's  fuch  a  Connexion  eftablifli'd  here 
between  the  San^ification  of  the  Spirit  and  the  Sprinkling  of  the  Blood 
of  Jefus,  as  that  the  Latter  never  takes  Place  on  any  Soul  without 
the  Former.  So  that  only  Saints  in  Chrift  Jejus  indeed  have  true 
Communion  with  God  and  Acceptance  in  his  Sight.  Nor  can  any 
under  the  Dominion  and  Guilt  of  Sin,  (which  you  grant  to  be  the  Cafe 
of  all  the  Unregenerate)  hope  to  make  their  Way  into  the  Favour 
of  God  by  any  poflible  Services  of  theirs  (whilfl  in  that  Situation) 
notwithflanding  they  may  profefTedly  implore  Acceptance /or  CArf/?'x 
Sake.  Without  a  divine  application  of  Redemption  in  EfFeftual 
Calling,  the  Sinner's  meer  pleading  its  Purchafe  will  avail  nothing 
towards  gaining  the  Divine  Acceptance  and  Favour.  In  vain  there- 
fore is  the  meer  Purchafe  fuppos'd  to  be  the  Ground  of  a  Promife  to 
Men's  Endeavours  antecedent  to  this  equally  necefTary  Jpplication. 
I  have  the  rather  (Sir)  infifted  on  thefe  Things  here,  becaufe  many 
in  your  Scheme  appear  to  me  exceedingly  confus'd  in  their  Tho'ts 
upoil  them,  without  any  confident  Scheme  of  Principles,  and  indeed 
without]  any  diftinft  Idea's  at  all  upon  thefe  Particulars  :  and  be- 
caufe  of  the  Importance  of  the  Things  in  themfelves,  as  well  as  their 
Reference  to  the  Point  now  in  Debate. 

I  fliall  only  add  here,  that  the  flriving  Sinner,  whofe  Right  (at 
]eafl  conditional  Right)  to  fpecial  Grace,  pafled  over  to  him  by  God's 
Promife,  you  contend  for,  this  Man  (I  fay)  is  either  under  the  Law, 
or  under  Grace  ;  I  mean,  as  to  his  fecret  State  before  God,  he  is 
now  aftually  either  in  the  Covenant  of  the  firft  Adam,  or  in  the 
Covenant  of  the  fecond  Adam.    He  can'c  be  in  Both  ac  the  fame 

I  Time  : 


i6  Special  Grace  not  promifed  \ 

Time  :  or  be  of  fVorks,  and  of  Faith  too.  Now,  if  the  ..^r 
be  his  Cafe,  the  Scripture  tells  us,  he  is  under  the  Curfe.  (Gal. 
3.  10.)  And  how  the  Man  that  is  under  the  Curfe  of  the  Law, 
or  ( as  you  grant )  under  the  Dominion  and  Guilt  of  Sin,  Ihould 
at  the  fame  Time  have  a  Right  to  Salvation,  or  ( which  is  the 
fame  Thing)  to  God's  fpecial  Grace,  by  Virtue  of  a  Promife  in  the 
Gofpel- Covenant,  mufl:  to  my  weak  Underflanding  remain  a  Paradox, 
till  you  can  favour  me  with  fome  fatisfaftory  Solution  of  the  Diffi- 
culty. And  till  you  have  done  this,  I  hope  you'l  no  more  upbraid 
thofe  on  our  Side  with  '^  corrupting  the  Flainnefs  and  Simplicity  of  the 
Gofpel,  and  in  EiFedl  making  it  a  meer  unintelligible  Riddle.''--  How 
Is  it  pofTible,  Sir,  that  Sinners  a6lually  in  a  State,  and  under  a  Do- 
minion,  condemned  both  by  Law  and  Gofpel,  fhould  be  capable  of 
pleafing  God  with  their  dead  Formalities  ;  or  be  made  accepted  in  the 
Beloved,  while  they  are  far  from  prefenting  their  Bodies  a  living  Sacri' 
fice,  holy  and  acceptable  to  God,  which  is  our  reafonable  Service  I 

From  all  thefe  Confiderations,  I  think  it  inconteflible,  that  there*s 
no  Probability,  no  Pofllbility  of  theUnregenerate  Man's  Endeavours 
in  Religion  (whilO:  his  State  and  his  governing  Principle  are  fuch) 
being  in  any  found  Scriptural  Senfe  pleafing  to  God. — And  then,  to 
be  fure,  thefe  his  Endeavours  cannot  confiftently  be  pretended  to 
be  the  Condition  of  promifed  fpecial  Grace,  which  the  BlefFed  God 
in  Qiiality  of  a  moral  Governor  and  righteous  Judge  of  his  Creature's 
Behaviour  and  Improvements,  Hands  engaged  by  his  Covenant  to  be- 
llow in  Reward  of  the  Sinner's  Endeavours. 
But  fo  much  for  the  firil  Thing. 

2.  Nor  am  I  able  to  conceive  how  it's  polllble,  that  any  Doings 
which  are  dfpleafing  and  offenfive  to  God,  (as  for  the  Principles,  the 
Ends,  and  Manner  of  them,  are  the  bed  Doings  of  every  Unrege- 
nerate  Man)  fliould,  efpecially  under  that  Notion  be  the  flaced 
Condition  of  his  obtaining  fpecial  Grace,  or  give  him  a  Right  to  ic 
in  Virtue  of  any  Fromife  of  God. 

Surely  this  mufl  to  every  unprejudic'd  Thinker  appear  a  deep^ 
Abfurdity,  or  in  your  own  Language,  perfect  Nonfenfe.  Doubtlefs 
it  will  be  granted  me,  there  is  a  Divine  Harmony  and  moral  Fitnefi 
in  the  whole  Conflitution  of  the  Gofpel-Covenant,  and  a  perfe6l 
Congruity  or  Suitablenefs  to  the  moral  Perfe^iions  of  God  running 
through  his  whole  Adminiflration  of  it.  But  what  Shadow  of 
Agreement  between  the  Behaviour  and  Improvements  of  a  fallen  Crea- 
ture aftually  under  the  Dominion  and  Guilt  of  Sin,  contrary  to  the  Di- 
vine Nature,  therefore  odious  in  the  Sight  of  God,— -And  Gods 
making  thefe  a  Condition  in  the  Gofpel- Covenant,  upon  which  he 


U  any  Endeavours  of  the  Unresenerate.  67 

lias  fufpended  his  Promife  of  fpecial  Grace,  and  which  accordingly 
as  a  moral  Governor  and  righteous  Judge,  he  makes  the  Rule  and 
Meafure  of  his  Difpenfations  in  the  prefent  Cafe  ?  Are  there  noc 
fome  of  the  mofl:  Inconjijtent  Ideas  put  together  here  /----Can  the 
polluted  Doings  of  a  Creature,  devoid  of  the  Image  of  God  and 
under  the  Power  of  Sin,  have  any  Firtue  in  them  to  recommend 
him  to  God's  Favour,  and  to  make  him  a  meet  Objedl  of  his  fpe* 
c'lal  Grace,  or  in  your  own  Phrafe,  to  qualify  him  for  God's  Help  ? 
And  if  not,  then  I  pray,  what  is  there  in  thefe  Doings,  to  render 
it  at  all  congruous,  or  fuitable  that  they  fliould  be  made  the  Con- 
{iition  in  a  Divine  Promife,  and  fo  in  Virtue  of  this  ferve  to  give  the 
fallen  Creature  a  Right  to  fpecial  and  faving  Grace  !  Can  you  pof- 
fibly  conceive,  how  it  fliould  bear  any  Agreement  with  the  re6loral 
Holinefs  of  God,  in  tran fasting  with  his  Creatures,  to  make  That  a 
Condition  of  his  fpecial  Grace,  which  (though  materially  good,  yet 
otherwife)  in  its  whole  moral  Complexion,  is  infinitely  difagreeable, 
and  therefore  difpleafing,  to  the  Divine  Purity  ?  What,  can  be  a 
more  glaring  Contradi6tion  than  this  ! 

Nor  will  it  in  the  leaft  remove  the  Difficulty  here,  to  fay.  That 
by  a  fpecial  ASl  of  meer  fovereign  Grace,  purchafed  by  Chrifi,  thefe 
Doings,  tho'  in  themfehes  truly  vile  and  unworthy,  may  for  Chrift's 
fake  be  appointed  the  Condition  of  fpecial  Grace,  confi/iently  enough  with 
ihe  Honour  of  the  Divine  Holinefs.  —  For  we  are  in  this  Cafe  to 
form  our  Judgment  of  God's  Adls,  not  upon  meer  Conjedtures  of 
our  own  Reafon  or  Fancy,  but  by  the  infallible  Revelations  we  find 
in  the  Oracles  of  Gpd  himfelf.  Now,  if  we  judge  by  this  Divine 
Rule,  it  can  never  b^made  appear,  that  God  has  puhlifloed  any  fuch 
A6t  of  Grace,  as  is  here  fuppofed  :  This  indeed  is  the  very  Fa6lin 
Queftion.  And  if  no  fuch  Aft  of  Grace  be  publiflied  in  the  Gofpel  of 
Chrift,  we  may  be  fure  thatChrift  never  purchafed  fuch  an  one.  The 
whole  Tenor  of  the  Gofpel- Covenant,  the  Bleflings  whereof  come  to 
us  in  Virtue  of  the  Redeemer's  Purchafe,  difcovers  its  perfe6l  Har- 
mony with  God's  moral  Perfe^ions  :  and  (liews,  that  all  the  pur- 
chafed Bleflings  are  difpenfed  in  an  invariable  Method  of  Grace,  io 
contrived  by  infinite  Wifdom,  That  God  might  be  Jufl,  and  the  Jufli- 
Jier  of  him  which  believeth  in  Jefiis.  How  can  it  then  with  a  due 
Reverence  to  God's  Holindfs  znd  ^uflice,  as  reprefented  to  us  in  the 
'Gofpel,  be  imagined,  that  a  Conditional  Right  to  his  fpecial  Grace 
^fliould  pafs  over  to  the  fallen  Creature,  by  Virtue  of  a  Promife  (tho' 
fuppofed  to  be  founded  on  the  Merits  of  Cbrift)  made  immediately 
to  fuch  Doings,  as  really  have  no  true  Holinefs  in  them,  and  are 
wholly  d«[liuite  of  that  FaiUi  unfeigned,- tJjiou^h  which  we  ^efaved 

by 


^5  Stec  lAL  Gil  Act  not  promifed 

ly  Grace,  according  to  the  Scripture  Doftrine  of  the  Evangelical 
Covenant. ^  'Tis  by  Faith  we  receive  the  Atonement  :  and  only  by 
thus  receiving  the  Jtonetnent,  can  we  gcc  a  Right  to  the  fure  Mercies 
of  the  everJafling  Covenant,  or  become  (as  you  fpeak)  ''  qualify'd 
**  for  God's  Help,"  in  a  further  Supply  of  the  Spirit  of  JefusGhrift. 

Nor  will  it  (as  fome  in  your  Scheme  argue  againfh  us)  do  any  Ho- 
nour to  the  Mercy  of  God,  to  fuppofe  fuch  a   Promife  as  you  con- 
tend for  :  becaufe  his  Name  is  Holy  and  True,  as  well  as  Merciful 
and  Gracious.     And   in  his  Covenant  of  Mercy,  and  in  all  the  Exer- 
cifes  of  Covenant- Mercy,  He  flill  preferves  his  Truth  inviolable  and 
his  Holinefs  perfe6lly  unblemidied.     To  deny  a  Divine   Promife  to 
any  Condition,  that  is  contrary  to  his  Holinefs  and  Truth,  and  to  deny 
his  being  pleafed  with  any  Doings   of  a  Creatiire  under  the  Dominion 
of  Sin,  and  which  have  no  Degree  of   true  moral   Purity  in  them, 
is  fo  far   from  leflening  the  Honour  of  Divine  Mercy,  that  it  is  a 
Vindication  of  it.     God's  Mercy  is  ever  a  true  and  jujl  and   pure 
Mercy.     His  Promifes  of  Mercy,   and  all  his  Actings   upon  them, 
rever  fail  of  being  intirely    confident  with    and    honorary  to  all 
the  moral  Attributes  of  his  Nature.— -And  here,  Sir,  I  would  join 
with  you  (in  your  Pag.  20.)  in  "  Wifliing  it  to  be  more  ferioufly 
confider'd,  that  it   was  the  Wicked  Servant  (Matth.  25.  24.  com- 
par'd  with  Luk.  19.   22.)  who  reprefented  his  Lord  as  an  hard  Mar?,, 
reaping  where  he  had  nevsr  fown  "  &c.  For  I  defire  it  may  be  impar- 
tially examined^  On   ivhich  Side  of  the  Quefl:ion   before  us  there  is 
rnofl  danger  of  that  wicked  Servant's  unjult  Charge  againfl:  his  Lord 
taking  Place.     Whether  on  the  Side  we  efpoufe,  whofe  Opinion  in 
this  Particular  fo  evidently  pays  united  Hon(?urs  tothe  Divine  Ha- 
linefs  and  Mercy,  and  appears  fo  clearly  juftifiable  from  the  Word  of 
God,   as  well  as  the  Nature  and  Reafon  of  I'hings  ?-— Or  on  the 
Side  you  efpoufe,  whcfe  Opinion  is  fuch  as  reprefents  the  Mercy  o-f 
God  in   a  Light  fo  apparently  inconfiftent  with    his  Holinefs,  and 
reprefents  that  Do6lrine  which  only  makes  thefe  Divine  Attributes 
appear  in  their  true  Harmony,  as  if  it  eclipfcd  the  Glory  of   God's 
Mercy,  and  exhibited  Him  in  the  falfe  and  odious  Character  of  an 
ibari  Mafter,  i.  e.  like  Pharaoh  &c?-— Fordo  not  thofe  on  your 
Side,  and  you  your  felf,  Sir,    by  this  Jccufation  you  have  brought 
againfl:  us,  virtually  and  in  true    Conftrudtion    openly  declare  it 
your  Sentiment,  that  in  Cafe  the  Do6lrine  we   embrace  and  you 
impugn  be  true,  then  the  Glorious  God  muft  be  looked  upon  indeed 
a  bard  Mafier  ?—-- Whereas  we  in  our  very  Hearts  abhor  and  detefl: 
this  pretended  Confequence  from  our  Doftrine :   and  we  attribute  it. 
In  thofe  that  frame  fuch  an  Inference^  to  the  Want  of  a  mftpnt 

wag' 


JO  any  Endeavours  of  the  Unregenerate.  69- 

way  of  thinking  in  Religion,  and  more  efpeci-ally  to  the  Want  of  a 
full  and  jufl:  Senfe  of  the  Sinfuhiefs  and  M[fcvy  of  that  Eftate,  into 
which  the  Fall  brought  Mankind. 

But,  it  may  be,  after  all  I  have  faid  to  enforce  the  Argument 
in  hand,  fome  may  attempt  to  weaken  it  by  denying  the  Disjunc- 
lion ;  and  pretending,  That  the  Endeavours  vf  the  feeking  driving 
Sinner^  to  'which  they  fuppofe  fpecial  Grace  promifcd,  are  fuch  as  are 
neither  pleafing  nor  difpleafing  to  God,  nor  confequently  are  under  either 
cf  thefe  Notions  made  conditional  of  its  Befcowment.-— 

Now  the  Weaknefs  of  fuch  a  Pretence  will  eafily   appear,  if  we 
confider^  that  it  is  in  the  Nature  of  Things  impoffible,  the  Doings 
of  a  vioral  Jgent,  in  a  moral  Cafe,  and   confidered  as  Juch  by  a  mo-\ 
ral  Governor  and  righteous  Judge,  fliould  be  neither  good  nor  evil^  and 
fo  neither  pleafing  nor  difpleafing  to  Him.— -The  Lord  weigheth  Ac- 
tions, and  loveth  Right eoufnefs,  but  hateth  Iniquity.     And  confidering 
fallen  Man  as  flill  a  Subjeft  of  moral  Government,   under  a  Law 
to  God,  and  obliged  by   natural   Bonds  as  a  Creature  to  glorify 
Him  in  Body  and  Spirit,  which  are    His  ;  how  is  it  poifible,  that 
any  of  his  voluntary  Aftions  fhould  be  totally  indifFerent,  fo  as  noE 
to  carry  in  them  moral  Goodnefs,  nor  yet  moral  Evil.     Such  an  ab- 
folute  Neutrality  is  what  this  Cafe  will  never  admit  of.     And  now 
according  as  they  are  truly  Works  of  Right  eoufnefs,  or  not,  fo  does 
God  as  a  moral  Governor   and  Judge  either  approve,  or  elfe  difap- 
prove  them.  —The  DisjunBion  then  in  the  Cafe  before  us  mud  forever 
ftand  :  and  the  Pretence  of  any  Doings,  prefcribed  as  Conditions  to 
a  moral  Agent,  being  neither   good  nor  evil,  neither    pleafing   not 
difpleafing  to  a  moral   Governor,  mufl-  be  difcarded  as  a  vain  and 
idle  Pretence.— -Admitting  it  were  a  poffible  Cafe,  that  the  Doings 
of  a  moral  Agent,  afting  as  fuch,  might  be  perfeftly  indifFerent  in 
themfelvesy  yet   if  we  fuppofe  them  by  a  moral  Governor  made   the 
Conditions  of  a  promifed  Benefit,  they  muft  in  this  View  lofe  their 
IndifFerency  ,*    and  being  looked  on  as  good,  will  confequently   be 
amiable  and  pleafing  in  his  Sight.-— However,  if  the  Doings  of  the 
Unregenerate  Man  be  indeed,  (according  to  the  Obje6tion)   nei- 
ther pleafing  oor  yet  difpleafing  to  God,  then  furely  they  muft  ftand 
for  meer  Cyphers,  moral  Nullities,  in  God's  Account  :    and  it  mufl 
difcover  too  little  Reverence  of  the  only  wife  God,   to  fuppofe 
Him,  as  a  moral  Governor,  in  a  Covenant- Tranfaftion  with  his  fallen 
Creature  making  a  very  Thing  of  Nought  the  Condition    of  his  pro- 
mifed Grace,  and  the  Rule  of  his  Adminiftration  as  a.  righteous  Judge 
of  the  Behaviour  of  moral  Agents.-— Can  fuch  Doings,  as   morally 
are  Nothing^hQ  fuppos'd  a/(  Confideration  for  theMajefty  of  Heaven 


70  Special  Gkkci.  not  promifed 

to  a6l  upon,  in  dlfpenfing  his  faving  Mercies  !  Such  Doings  as  ar^^ 
upon  this  Hypothefis,  indeed  but  empty  Cobwebs,  can  you  fuppofe 
ic  confiflenc  with  Wifdom,  that  thefe  Ihould  be  (what  thofe  in  your 
Scheme  make  the  Unregenerate  Man's  Doings)  the  Conftderation 
which  God  refpefts  in  difpenfing  his  Grace,  the  immediate  Bafis  of 
the  Apph'cation  of  Redemption,  the  Ground  of  EfFeftual  Calling 
and  fo  of  a6lual  Salvation  !  Has  fuch  a  pretended  Condition  any 
Meetncfs  to  be,  as  it  is  made,  the  grand  Hinge,  on  which  a  faving 
Intereit  in  the  Redeemer  turns,  and  on  which  the  Promife  of  fpe- 
cial  Grace  is  fufpended  !-— Yet  I  mufl  needs  fay,  as  abfurd  as  the 
Suppcficion  is,  which  we  are  upon,  ic  feems  lefs  dillionourable 
to  God,  than  either  of  thofe  in  the  Dhjun^ion,  which  it  is  brought 
to  confute.  For,  to  fuppofe  the  Unregenerate  Man's  Doings, 
though  not  morally  good,  yet  pleajing  to  God,  and  in  this  View- 
made  the  Condition  of  his  Promife  in  the  Cafe  before  us  ;  or  to 
fuppofe  them,  although  difpleafmg  to  God,  as  being  morally  not 
good,  yet  however  made  conditional  of  the  Beftowment  of  his  fpe- 
cial  Grace  ;  either  of  thefe  appears  rather  ij^orfe,  I  think,  than  to 
fuppofe  a  perfe6l  Neutrality  here,  and  that  they  are  under  neither 
of  thefe  Views  made  the  Condition,  in  a  free  Promife  and  fovereign 
A61  of  Grace.  Neverthelefs,  all  thefe  Suppofitions  [are  really 
abfurd,  and  refledl  on  the  moral  Perfeftions  of  God,  that  none  of 
them  are  to  be  admitted.  And  whatever  View  thefe  fVerks  ante- 
cedent to  Converfion  are  confidered  in,  they  can  no  ways  with 
any  Suitablenefs  to  the  Nature  of  Things,  or  to  the  revealed 
Scheme  of  Salvation,  have  this  Conditional  Form  put  upon  them  : 
and  I  believe,  an  Appeal  might  fafely  be  made  here  to  the  Judg- 
ment of  the  Generality,  at  leafl  of  the  mod  experienced  Chrifti- 
ans  and  Divines. 

Here,  Sir,  I  muft  ferioufly  profefs  my  felf  intirely  at  a  Lofs  how 
CO  reconcile  the  Scheme  you  are  upon,  either  with  the  Humility  of 
fliving  Faith,  or  indeed  with  the  foregoing  Hmmliation,  proper  to  the 
Cafe  of  an  awakened  feeking  Sinner,  that  is  to  fay,  if  the  Principles 
of  your  Letter  are  thoroughly  received,  confcioufly  a6led  upon, 
snd  fully  purfued  in  all  their  practical  Confequences.  I  mud  ask 
Leave,  Sir,  to  obferve  to  you,  that  it  can  be  but  of  very  little 
Avail  for  our  Conviftion,  when  you  tell  us  in  folemn  Manner 
iPojlfcr.  Pag.  29.)  "  That  you  aim  not  at  undermining  any  of  the  Soul- 
hunibVing  Docirines  of  the  Go/pel.  No,— -God  forbid.  I  firmly  believe 
'i'.  (fay  you)  to  be  the  great  Defign  &f  the  Gofpel,  to  humble  the  Souls 
'i>f  Men,''  <6c..— Bur,  Sir,  what  fignifies  this  Profellion,  fo  long  a-s 
3'ou  efpoufe  and  promote  Opinions,  thac.run  quite  counter  to  re  ? 

Indeed, 


to  any  ilndeavours  of  ths  Unre  generate.  71 

Indeed,  Sir,  I  cannot  fee  how  to  reconcile  your  Poflfcript  with  the 
Body  of  your  Letter,  in  this  Point.  You  fay,  You  don't  aim  at  un- 
dermining the  humbling  Do6trines  of  the  Gofpel  :  and  yet  it  is  the 
main  Defign  and  Drift  of  your  whole  Letter  to  undermine  that  Doc- 
trine touching  God's  Sovereignty  in  Converfion,  which  only  is  cal- 
culated for  the  End  of  eifedlually  bumbling  the  loft  Sinner  ; 
and  you  fee  your  felf  to  fupport  that  Doftrine  of  a  Promife  of  fpe- 
cial  Grace,  to  the  Unregenerate,  on  Condition  of  their  own  Endea- 
vours, which  fo  ftrongly  tends  to  flatter  the  Pride  of  the  fallen  Creature, 
and  to  countenance  that  ^o^y^fw^  which  the  Gofpel  for  ever  excludes. 
You  feem  loath  to  fpeak  out  plainly  the  whole  Truth  concerning  the 
Guilt,  Pollution  and  Wretchednefs  of  "the  Sinner's  natural  State;  you 
appear  loath,  that  fallen  Man  fhould  be  reprefented  in  fuch  impove- 
riih'd  and  diflrefs'd  Circumftances,  as  to  be  oblig'd  to  come  {Forma 
pauperis)  in  the  humble  Poflure  and  Spirit  of  a  Beggar,  to  fue  for 
divine  Alms,  without  Money  and  without  Price  ;  but  you  would 
bolfler  him  up  with  the  Notion  of  a  Right,  at  lead  a  conditional 
Righty  palTed  over  to  him  by  a  divine  Promife,  made  to  his  Cries 
and  Endeavours,  and  fecuring  to  him  Succefs  ;  and  not  leaving 
the  fovereign  God  at  abfolute  Liberty,  either  to  give  or  to  with- hold 
as  he  pleafeth.  Nay,  upon  a  Suppofition  that"  God  hath  referv'd 
fuch  a  Liberty  to  himfelf,  and  not  bound  himfelf  by  exprefs  Promife, 
to  difpenfe  his  Grace  to  the  Rebel-Creature,  upon  Condition  of  bis 
own  Endeavours,  you  infinuate  as  if  in  that  Cafe  God  would  aft 
like  a  hard  Majler,&c.  even  notwithltanding  all  the  condefcerding 
Invitations  and  gracious  Encouragements  which  the  Gofpel  abounds 
with,  to  the  returning  Sinner.—- Now,  furely  if  this  be  the  Spirit 
of  your  Letter,  I  muft  needs  fay,  it  looks  fo  very  much  like  aim- 
ing to  undermine  the  Soul  humbling  Doctrines  of  the  Gofpel,  that  I 
fhould  have  verily  thought  you  had  really  aim'd  at  this,  if  vou  had 
not  profefled  otherwife.  And  if  others  judge  your  foleran  Dec'ara- 
lion  of  fufficient  Force  to  remove  that  Imputation,  I  mufl  leave  it  : 
Only  I  will  here  remind  you  of  Bp.  Hopkins's  Cenfure  upon  your 
Scheme,  viz.  That  to  fuppofe  Grace  given  according  to  fVorks  is  ths 
Sum  and  Up/hot   of  Pelagianifm. 

And  indeed.  Sir,  whether  you  faw  the  full  Force  and  Meaning  of 
your  own  Language,  or  not,  tell  me  what  lefs  than  the  compleat  Ex- 
tent of  Pelagianifm  in  the  Point  of  Original  Sin,  can  in  any  fair  Con- 
ftruftion  be  made  of  thofe  PafTages  in  your  Letter  (Pag.  6,  7,  8.) 
where  you  fay,  "  Indeed  I  cannot  think  is  confiflent  with  the  Divine 
•'  Attributes—to  give  Being  to  any  of  his  Intelligent  Creatures  "  [here 
jou  don't  fo  much  as  except  the  Race  of  faUen  Jdam']  ''  without 

5*  putting 


72  S  p  E  c  I A  L  G  R  A  c  E  Hof  promjjed 

**  putting  them  into  a  Condition,  that  (every  thing  being  conjidered  in 
'■^  the  whole  of  their  Nature  and  Duration  {would  render  Being  defirable 
"  to  them,  6i.c."--But  every  Thing  beyond  what  is  juji  fufficient  toren- 
*^  der  Being  defirable,  even  to  a  perfeft  Creature,  however  fo  obedient,  I 
"  take  to  be  Matter  of  meer  fovereign  Goodnefs." — Which  Paragraph 
you  fhut  up  wiih  this  Obfervation  with  reference  to  Man,  that 
'•  he  /Jjall  not  be  accountable  for  what  he  never  received,  "  &c.  where,  I 
fuppofe  from  the  Current  of  your  Difcourfe,  you  mean  never  receivd 
perfonally.  Now,  Sir,  if  this  be  your  Opinion,  that  Mankind  are 
accountable  only  for  what  they  (themfclves,  perfonally)  have  receivd^ 
then  it  feems,  what  human  Nature  once  receivd  and  lofi  again  in^- 
dam,  our  firfl  Father  and  common  Head,  is  totally  excluded  the  JC' 
count  ;  and  we  are  no  longer  to  believe  with  the  Apoftle,  That  the 
judgment  was  by  One  (the  Offence  of  one  Man)  to  Condemnation,  or  that 
in  Adam  all  die.— If  it  be  your  Opinion,  with  refpeft  to  the  Offspring 
cf  jidamy  That  God's  Perfe^ions  (as  you  ex^efs  it)  oblige  him,  in  giving 
them  Being,  to  put  them  into  a  Conditien,  that  is  in  the  whole  better  than 
not  to\be,  or  that  (every  thing  confide/ d  in  the  whole  of  their  Nature,  &c.) 
would  render  Being  defirable  to  them,  and  by  no  Means  to  put  them  into  a 
worfe  Condition,  but  in  Cafe  of  their  own  [i.  e.  perfonal]  wilful  Difobedi- 
ence  :  And  if  it  be  your  Opinion  at  the  fame  Time,  That  it  is  as 
much  as  God  is  oblig'd  from  his  Perfeftions,  to  do  for  perfe^  and  m- 
S20cent  Creatures,  to  put  them  into  this  Condition,  which  implies  No- 
thing more  than  what  is  jufi:  fufficient  to  render  Being  defirable  to 
them  ,•  every  Thing  beyond  this,  being  the  Refult  o^  fovereign  Good- 
Tiefs,  i.  e.  unoblig'd  free  Favour  :  I  fay.  Sir,  if  thefe  be  your  real 
Sentiments,  then  I  think,  it  mufl:  be  your  Opinion,  upon  the  whole. 
That  God's  Perfeftions  oblige  him  to  treat  innocent  Adam  and  his 
Tofterity  Alike,  with  Refpedt  to  the  Condition,  which,  in  giving  them 
Being,  his  Attributes  did  and  ftill  do  oblige  him  to  put  them  into. 
Nor,  according  to  thofe  your  Principles,  is  he  oblig'd,  when  giving 
Being  io  zny  pure  and  perfect  Creature  whatever,  to  put  him  into  a 
Condition  at  all  more  defirable,  than  that  which  (according  to  you)  he 
is  oblig'd  by  his  Perfe6lions  to  put  fallen  Man  into,  when  bringing 
him  into  Being.  For  all  that  exceeds  what  is  jufl  fufficient  to  render 
Being  defirable,  is  more  than  his  Perfeftions  oblige  him  to,  even  in 
that  Cafe,  and  mufl  fpring  from  m^QX  arbitrary  Kindnefs.  And  fiire- 
ly  you  Claim  as  much  on  the  behalf,  of  ^J^m'sDefeendants.  Is  this. 
Sir,  the  Scheme  you  are  upon  /  If  fo,  then  I  think,  it  follows,  'tis 
your  Opinion,  That  Adam's  Offspring  are  born  pure  and  innocent  Crea- 
tures. For  a  State  of  Sin  and  fpiritual  Death  is,  I  think,  a  worfe 
Condition,  chan  t-hac  of  not-being :  unlefs  a  Remedy  and  Deliverance 

be 


to  any  Endeavours  oj-  iDe  u  nregenerate.  73 

iiippos'd  provided  in  that  Cafe.  But  did  God's  Perfections  &Z>//^5hini 
to  make  iKis Frovifion  in  our  Cafe?  Might  he  not,  confifl-ently  v/itli 
the  Honour  of  his  Goodnefs,  have  glorify 'd  his  Jufticey  without  a 
Remedy  in  the  Cafe  oi  fallen  Man,  even  as  in  thai c^ fallen  Angehl 
Was  it  not  therefore  an  A61  offovereign  Goodncfs  in  Him  to  provide 
a  Saviour,  to  raife  up  a  fecond  Jdam,  when  we  were  ruin'd  in  the 
Firft  ?  Yet  without  doing  this  for  us,  will  you  fay,  that  God  was 
abligdy  in  giving  us  Being,  to  put  us  into  a  Condition  exempt  from 
the  Guilt  and  Pollution  of  Original  Sin  ?  Or  will  you  chufe 
DOW  to  fubfcribe  to  the  Do6lrine  of  Original  Sin,  and  further  (to  be 
confiftent  with  the  Principles  you  have  advanced)  fay,  that  to  be 
born  in  a  State  of  Sin  and  Mifery,  is  to  have  Being  given  us  in  a 
Condition  better,  than  not  to  be  at  all,  even  though  a  Redeemer  had 
jtjoc  been  provided,  but  efpecially  fince  God  has  in  Fa6l  rais'd 
up  a  Horn  of  Salvation  for  us  ?  In  fliort,  Sir,  be  but  confiftenr, 
and  you  mud  either  deny  the  Do6trine  of  Original  Sin,  which 
will  be  indeed  to  undertone  a  Soul-humbling  Do£lrine  of  the  Gofpel  : 
or  elfe,  confefling  this  Dodtrine,  you  muft  deny  and  renounce  the 
main  Principles  defended  in  your  Letter,  and  learn  to  look  on  poor 
fallen  Man  as  having  in  his  native  Condition  no  other  Refuge  but 
fovereign  Goodnefs,  free  Grace  and  Mercy  in  Chrifl,  not  in  the  leaft 
fecur^d  by  any  conditional  Promife  made  to  the  Sinner's  own  impotent 
and  polluted  Doings  in  his  unregenerate  State. 

Sir,  to  return  to  the  main  Point  immediately  in  Debate  between 
us,  I  would  propofe  to  you  two  Inquiries,  (r.)  Does  not  the 
JLight  to  fpecial  Grace,  which  you  plead  for,  as  by  a  Divine  Pro- 
mife pafled  over  to  the  Jlriving  Sinner,  does  not  this  (I  fay)  necef- 
farily  imply  an  a6lual  Agreement  or  Reconciliation  between  an  offend- 
ed God  and  his  Rebel-Creature  ?  Does  it  not  evidently  fuppofe, 
that  the  Lord  is  aftually  become  this  Mans  reconciled  Covenant-God ^ 
and  oblig'd  by  his  JuHice and  Veracity  to  blefs  him  with  allfpiritual 
Bleflings  ?-— For  it  would  be  abfurd,  to  aflert  a  Right  on  the 
Sinner's  part,  with  an  Obligation  on  God's  parr,  both  by  Virtue 
of  a  Promife  of  Grace,  and  yet  at  the  fame  time  to  fuppofe  no 
Agreement  or  Peace  at  all  between  the  Parties.^— -And  then  (2.) 
I  ask,  whether  it  be  poflible,  that  there  fliould  he  this  Reconcili- 
ation or  Agreement  between  thefe  extream  Oppofites  in  Nature  (i.  e. 
whilfl:  remaining  fuch)  a  God  of  infinite  HoUnefs,  and  a  Creature 
mder  the  Dominion  and  Guilt  of  Sin  ?  Pleafe,  Sir,  to  turn  to  thofe 
Divine  Declarations  to  the  Purpofe,  in  2  Cor.  6.  14,  15.  and  i 
3^oh.  I.  6,  Compar'd  with  Amos  3.  3.  When  you  have  maturely 
confider'd  thefc  two  Inquiries    pleafe  to  give  me  the  Refult    of 

K  your 


74  Special    Grace  Kof  promifed 

your  Thoughts,    and    it  ir.ay  contribute  to  an  eafy  liTue  of  this 
"Debate. 

I  beg  Leave,  Sir,   before   I  finifh,  to  offer  fome   Hints    on  n 
Text,  you   have    prefs'd    into    your   Service,   which   has   hitherto 
efcapsd  my  Notice.     In  the  Advertife merit  before  your  Letter  you 
allude   to   this   PaiTage,  in  Philip.  2.   12,  13.     Work  out  your    own. 
Salvation  ivith  Fear  and  Trembling  :  for   it   is  God    which  worketh    in 
you^  both  to  mil    and  to  do  of  his  good  P  leaf  tire.     It   were  in  effect 
charging  you  with  Impertinence,   not  to   fuppofc  that  you  under- 
ftood  thefe  Words  as  importing  a   Promije  of  fpecial  Grace,    made 
to  the  Endeavours  of  Unregenerate    Men    under    the   Dominion 
and  Guilt  of  Sin.  Yet  indeed  there  is  not  the  lead  Colour  for  fuch 
a  Conflruftion  of  the    Words,  neither  from   the  Text    nor  Con- 
text.    There  is  a  total  Silence  here,  as  to  the  Cafe  of  an  Unrege-- 
nerate  Man. ----So  there  is  with  regard  to  the  Sinner's  working  be- 
ing conditional  of  God's  working.     Nay,    the  Contrary   appears,    in 
as  much  as  God's    working   is  here    confidered  as   prior  to   Man's 
working,  and  (as  fuch)  urged  as  a  Motive  to  it. — Neither  is  there 
any  Mention  made    here  of  converting    Grace,  nor  muft  we  necef- 
fiirily  conceive  firjl  Grace   to   be   intended   here  by   the  Salvation 
fpoken  of:  but  it  may  as  properly  mean  prooT^j^rj^  Salvation  here, 
and   compleat  Salvation    hereafter  :    in  which   Views  the  Word   is 
often  ufed,  and  is  (o  in  this  Epiftle.  (Chap.   i.  19,  28.)--Nor  is 
the  Fear  and  Trembling,  here  mentioned,  fuch  as  is  common    to  the 
Unregenerate,  but  may  as  well,  and  doubtlefs  doth,  intend  a  jilia} 
Reverence  and  godly  Fear,  peculiar  to  true  Chriflians.  — -  And  the 
Exhortation    here  is  expredy  directed  to  thofe   whom  the  Apoflle 
calls    his  Beloved,    and  'of  whom  he  fays  they   had  always  obeyed, 
Afure  Sign,  he  did  not  here  addrefs  fuch  as  he  fuppofed  to  be  Un- 
regenerate.--"And  the  Argument   he  ufes  to  enforce  it,  is.  For  it  :> 
God  that  worketh  in  you,  &c.     Wnich  runs  not  directly  in  the  Form  of 
^Promife,  but  feems  only  a  Declaration  of  Fact  :  q.  d.  It  is  the  Defign 
of  God's  working  in  you,  as  he  has  done,  and  the  proper  Improve- 
ment you  fhouldmake  of  Grace  received,  is,  to  put  you  upon  Endeavours 
afcer  progreiTive  Sanctification,  and  taking  Pains  for  the  Furtheranct 
cf  your  Salvation.— -Yei  the  Words  may  implicitly  couch  in  them 
a  Promife,  but  it  is  to  Saints  in  Chrift  Jefus.'—Nor  would  I  be  un- 
derftood  here  to  deny,  that  this  Text  may  feveral  Ways  be  adapted 
and  apply'd  for  Excitation  and  Encouragement  to  the  feeking  Jiriir- 
ing  Sinner,  ^nd  efpecially  for  the   promoting  his  Humiliation,  by  9. 
Conviction  of  his  own  fpiritual  Impotence,  and  the  Sovereignty 

of 


to  any  Lndeavours  of  ihe  unregenerate.  75 

of  God  in  the  Operations  of  efficacious  Grace,  &c.  However,  Sir, 
this  is  no  Help   to  your  Argument. 

I  ihall  now  take  a  brief  Notice  of  what  you  have  advanced  in 
your  Letter  (Pag.  3.)  where  you  tell  us,  *'  Nothing  can  fo  effec- 
*'  tually  tend  to  cut  the  Sinews  of  all  Endeavours  to  repent^'--as  even 
"  the  moji  dijlant  Surmife,  that  pojjlbly  all  our  Labour  may  be  in  vain." 
"—This,  Sir,  is  to  my  bed  Underftanding  one  of  the  mod  palpable 
Miftakes.  And  if  applied  to  any  important  Bufmefs  in  humane 
Life,  will  be  found  contrary  to  plain  Fa£l,  in  our  daily  Experience 
and  Obfcrvation.  Doth  not  the  Husbandman  plow  in  Hope,  without  the 
kaft  Certainty  of  Succefs?  Doth  not  the  Mariner  fail  in  dangerous  Sea- 
fonsof  the  Year,  and  in  Times  of  War  ?  Doth  not  the  Merchant  ad- 
venture his  Subflance  acrofs  the  Sea  to  foreign  Countries,  even 
when  Sailing  is  dangerous  ?  And  do  thefe  Men  a6l  without  any  the 
moft  diftant  Surmife  of  the  Poflibility  of  Difappointments  in  their 
Affairs  ?  Or  in  Cafe  of  Sicknefs,  won't  Men  fend  for  the  Pbyfi- 
cian  and  ufe  many  Medicines,  notwithflanding  apparent  Hazard  of 
never  recovering  ?  How  unjuftifiable  then  mufl;  be  the  Condudl 
of  Sinners,  if  in  a  Cafe  of  infinitely  greater  Importance,  and  of 
eternal  Confequence,  they  fuffer  any  dijlavt  Surmife  of  all  their  La- 
hour's  being  in  vain,  to  cut  the  Sinews  of  their  Endeavours  !  Ought 
they  not  in  this  moft  momentous  Cafe,  if  they  would  /hew  them- 
fekes  Men  and  confiftent  Agents,  to  aft  upon  like  Encouragement, 
as  in  Matters  of  inferior  Concernment  ?  It  being  a  Cafe,  in  whicli 
any  the  leaft  Probability,  yea,  a  bare  Fojfibility  of  Succefs  is  infinite- 
ly more  valuable,  than  in  any  other  Cafe  imaginable  ,*  and  a  Cafe, 
where  Neceffity  calls  aloud  for  their  moft  ardent  Defires,  their  molt 
incei^dini  Strivings  to  enter  in  at  the  fir  ait  Gate,  their  utmoft  Pains 
in  preffing  into  the  Kingdom  of  Goi. —  Was  the  Man-Jlaycr  under 
the  Law  fure  of  Succefs,  and  yet  was  he  not  wont  to  flee  with 
all  his  Might  to  the  City  of  Refuge  ?  And  fhould  not  the  awak- 
ened Sinner,  though  without  a  Promife  of  certain  Succefs,  yen 
upon  the   Encouragement  of  a  Probability,  or    even    a  meer  PoJJi- 

iility,  flee  for  Refuge   to  lay  Hold  on  the  Hope  fet  before  Him  ? 

Did  not  the  Ninevites  acl  meerly  upon  the  Encouragement  of  a 
Who  can  tell  if  God  will  return  .'-—And  the  Ifraelite^,  were  thev 
not  ftimulated  by  an  uncertain  Hope,  faying,  ^'ho  knowetb  if 
God  will  repent,  and  leave  a  BleJJmg  behind  him  !--.-Once  more, 
when  an  infpired  Apoftle  had  an  hypocritical  Profeilor  of  the 
Gofpel  in  Dealing,  I  mean  Simon,  whom  he  perceived  to  be  in. 
tile  Gall  of  Bitternefs  and  Bond  of  Iniquity,  with  what  Encour- 
agement doth  he  enforce  his  Exhorcatioa' to  him  10  repent,  anJL: 
fraytoGod?  Doth  he  tell  him  of  a  Prcr.ufe,  and  ur^e  his  Endeavours 

as 


7o  i3PEGiALijriiACE  HOT promi/ea 

3S  Conditions,  in  the  Manner  that  you  do  ?  No,  Sir,  but  he  puts 
ail  to  the  Rifque  ;  he  rnencions  but  a  Peradventure.—?ray  God,  if 
perhaps  He  may  forgive  thee.  — -  This  Perhaps,  as  here  ufed,  imports 
indeed  only  a  Sufpicion  of  the  Truth  of  the  Man's  Repentance, 
and  not  any  Doubt  of  God's  Forgivenefs  in  Cafe  his  Repentance 
were^fincere.— -Note,  Sir,  We  have  here  a  plain  Scripture-Exam- 
ple of  a  ProfeiTor  ftill  Unregenerate,  and  under  the  Dominion  and 
Guilt  of  Sin  ;  and  of  the  Encouragement,  which  the  Gofpel  gives 
to  iuch  an  one,  when  awakened,  to  cry  to  God  for  Mercy.  The 
/poftle  only  mentions  a  Perhaps  ;  and  never  lifps  to  him  the 
moll  dillanc  Surmife  of  a  Promife,  to  fecure  certain  Succefs.  Now 
in  this,  will  you  fay  of  an  Infpired  Apoftle,  that  he  took  the 
ready  Method  to  cut  the  Sinews  of  Simon'j  Endeavours  to  repent  ! — 

I  hope  furely,    in  this  Cafe  you  will  fay  No. What   then  i« 

the  Divinity  you  teach,  in  this  Particular  !  Is  it  not  too  near  akin 
to  that  vain  Philofophy,  vou  fo  loudly  exclaim  againft  ?  Or,  is  noK 
ihe  Language  of  your  Obje£tion  in  this  Cafe,  too  agreeable  to  thae 
of  the  Jlothful  Man,  who  in  Excufe  of  his  Averfion  to  taking  any 
Pains  without  Certainty  of  Succefs,  fays  on  every  Occafion,  There 
is  a  Lion  in  the  Way ! 

But,  Sir,  however  thofe  on  your  Side  of  the  Queflion  may  un- 
dervalue anv  Gofpel-Encouragement,  ihort  of  a  Promife  afcertain- 
ing  the  Succefs  of  a  Sinner's  Endeavours  ;  Yet  we  on  the  other 
Jiand  are  conflrained,  in  the  View  of  the  glorious  Encourage* 
inents  of  the  Gofpel  (ihough  from  meer  Sovereign  Mercy,  un- 
promifed  to  any  Endeavours  of  the  Unregenerate)  to  admire  the 
Wifdom  of  God  in  the  Conflicution  of  the  Covenant  of  Grace, 
i'o  adapted  to  the  Defign  of  exiking  his  own  Sovereignty,  and 
fecuring  the  Honours  of  his  Mercy  and  Holinefs  together,  and  ^o^ 
fidapted  to  promote  at  the  fame  Time  both  the  Humiliation  and 
the  Encouragement  of  the  fallen  Creature  !  Equally  calculated  ta 
swaken  the  Sinner's  Fear  of  God's  Wrath,  and  to  fupport  a  Hope 
in  his  Mercy  ,•  fo,  to  guard  him  againft  the  Dangers  of  Security, 
Prefumption,  and  Delay,  on  the  one  hand,  and  on  the  other  againft 
all  Temptations  to  Defpair  and  Deje6lion. 

Thus,  Sir,  I  have  finiflied  what  I  propofed  on  this  Occafion.-— 
I  am  confcious  of  much  Infirmity,  and  ask  your  Candour.  I  think, 
I  can  fay  uprightly,  I  have  not  committed  any  wilful  Miftakes  : 
but  have  wrote  in  the  Fear  of  God,  the  very  Senfe  of  my  Heart, 
according  to  my  beft  Light.  , 

On  the  whole,  I  would  juft  make  this  one  Remark,  and  be  iC 
temember'd :  Though  I  deny  any  Promife,  by  virtue  pf  which 


to  any  endeavours  of  the  Unregenerate.  '         77 

the  fpecial  Grace  of  God  can  poflibly  become  due  to  tte  Prayers 
and  Endeavours  of  the  Unregenerate,  whilit  fiich  ;  Yet  however, 
I  am  perfwaded,  that  it  is  the  Duty  of  Sinners  to  be  feeking  and 
ftriving  after  it ;  and  that  not  a  fingle  Inftance  will  be  found  of 
any  Sinner  in  the  Day  of  Judgment  able  to  ftand  forth,  and  plead  ia 
Truth,  Lori,  I  did  my  befl  Endeavour  to  the  very  lajl,  that  I  might  obtain 
the  Salvation  which  is  by  J  ejus  Chrift,  and  looked  diligently  left  I  Jhould 
fail  of  the  Grace  of  God,  but  after  all  was  deny'd. To  be  perfwa- 
ded of  this  Fa^,  on  the  Score  of  the  Riches  of  God's  Mercy,  and 
yet  at  the  fame  Time  to  renounce  all  Pretence  of  a  Promife  to  the 
Sinner's  Endeavours,  appear  to  me  Things  very  well  confiitent. 
Though,  guided  by  the  Word,  I  limit  the  Promifes  of  God  to  the 
Believer  :  Yet  far  be  it  from  me,  to  entertain  a  Thought  of 
limiting  Him  in  his  unpromifed  Mercy  towards  Sinners,  which  knows 
no  other  Bounds,  in  this,  or  any  other  Cafe,  confident  with  his 
moral  Perfections,  but  the  meer  good  Pleafure  of  his  Will. 

May  the  Spirit  of  Truth  leads  us  into  all  Truth  ,•  and  may  the 
Spirit  of  Grace  make  all  Grace  to  abound  towards  us  and  in  us  -I 

'Tis  the  flncere  Wiih  of, 

Rev.  Sir, 

Tour  humble  Servant^ 


Riptor^ 
April  22.   1747. 


7.  M. 

FINIS. 


ERRATA. 

Among  other  Miftakes,  which  are  left  to  the  Candour  of  intelligent  Rea- 
iers,  thcfe  which  follow  are  to  be  corrected  thus.-— 

Pag.  49.  lin.  38.  read  It's  a  good—.-  P.  61. 1. 14.  r.  Gofpel-Scbeme  of-^ 
P.  63. 1  2.  has  the  Truth....  Ibid.  J.  37.  r.  isJUH^^-  aud  1. 39.  r.  feeming— 
P.  65.  1.5.  r.  Crfaturef  ^       ^        »    ^ 


'  jbojLon,  uctcb.  15.   1747. 

WHEREAS  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jonathan  Dkkwjon  hath  prepared  fir 
the  Prefs  an  excellent  Defence  of  Tome  of  the  peculiar  and 
important  Do61rines  of  the  Gofpel  (Perfonal  EkStion,  Original  Sin, 
Jitftijicauon  by  Faith,  Special  Grace  in  ConverHon,  ^c.)  in  a  Piece, 
Incidcd,  A  Second  Vindication  of  GOD^s  fovereign  free  Grace. 
Being  in  Anfwer  to  the  Exceptions  made  againil  his  former  Vindica- 
Siof],  by  Meflirs  John/on  and  Beach. 

It  is  propofed,  that  the  faid  Work  fhall  fpeedily  be  publiflied  at 
about  iha  Price  of  Tivo  Shillings  and  fix  Pence  {New  Tenor)  per 
Book.     Thofe  that  fubfcribe  for  fix  Books  (hall  have  a  feventh  gratis. 
SUBSCRIPTIONS  are  taken  in  by  Rogeus   and  Fowle  in 
Queen-flrcet,  next  to  the  Prifon. 


Juji  Puhlijh'd, 

(and  fold  by  Rogers  and  Fowle  in  Qiieen-ftreet) 

One  of  the  inofi  iifeful  Books  of  the  kind  extant  : 

Neceflary  to  be  had  in  all  Families. 

Troper  to  be  given  by  MiflreiTes  to  their  Maids,  or  Parents  to  their 

Daughters, 
A  Prefent  for  a  Servant-Maid  ;  Or,  The  fure  Means  of  gaining 
Love  and  Ejleem.  In  which  are  Directions  for  going  to  Market  ; 
Alfo,  for  drefling  any  common  Difh,  whether  Flejh^  Fifh,  or  Fowl. 
With  Rules  for  Wafhing,  &c.  The  whole  calculated  for  making 
both  the  Miftrefs  and  Maid  happy. 

The  following  Recommendation  of  the  above  Book  is  taken  from  the 
Gentleman's  Magazine  in  London. 

'f  This  fmall  Treatife  is  fo  well  done,  and  fo  much  approved  of  by 
"  Perfons  of  all  Ranks,  that  great  Numbers  have  been  fold  here ; 
**  Landlords  give  them  to  their  Tenants,  Parents  to  their  Children, 
^  MiftrefTes  to  their  Servants,  Governors  and  Directors  of  Charity 
"  Schools  enjoin  the  Miftrefles  to  teach  the  Girls  to  read  this  Book, 
"  as  the  befl:  extant  to  qualify  them  for  Services  of  any  kind." 

Juft  PublifJjd  in  2  Volumes, 
The  Hlflory  pf  the  Martyrs,  Alphabetically  epitomiz'd  :  Being  a 
Cloud  of  WitnelLjs  ;  Or,  the  Sufferers  Mirrour,made  up  of  the  Swan 
like  Son 5;?,  and  other  Choice  Paffages  of  a  great  Number  of  Martyrs 
aid  Confellors  ro  the  End  of  the  Sixteenth  Century,  in  their  Trea-. 
tifes.  Speeches,  Letfers,  Prayers,  ^c.  in  their  Prifons,  or  Exiles  :  at 
the  Bar,  or  Slake,  ^c.  Colleaed  oat:  of  the  Ecclefiaftical  Hiftories 
o^  Euf  bitty,  Fo.x,  Fuller,  Clark,  Petrie,  Scotland,  2indMr.  SatfmlfVard's^ 
Life  of  FarJi  in   Death,  &c.     By  Thomas  Mall,  M.  A. 


BOOKS    fold  by  Rogers  and  Fowie  in  Boflon. 

A  SUMMARY,  Hiaorical  and  Political,  Of  the  fird  Planting, 
progreffive  Improvements,  and  prefent  State  of  the  Bntifh  Settle- 
ments in  North-America  j  with  fome  tranfienc  Accounts  of  the 
Bordering  French  and  Spani/h  Settlements.     By  fV.  D.  m.  d. 

N.  B.  All  Perfons  who  are  inclined  to  have  a  certain  Acquain- 
tance with  the  Hidory  of  their  own  Country,  muft  neceflari^ly  be 
profited  and  delighted  with  the  aforefaid  Work  ;  which  for  the 
Eafe  of  the  Printer,  and  not  to  be  burdenfome  to  the  Pveader, 
is  carried  on  in  Numbers,  (a  Method  common  in  England.  Thir- 
teen Numbers  are  already  printed  off  (with  fuitable  Covers)  of  about 
16  Pages  each,  on  good  Paper,  at  two  Shillings  old  Tenor  each 
Number.—And  now  the  Winter  Evenings  are  coming  on,  this 
Work  may  be  very  ufeful  and  entertaining  to  Farmers  and  Gentle- 
men in  the  Country,  v/ho  we  prefume  will  learn  more  by  one  of 
thefe  little  Pieces,  with  regard  to  Indian  Wars  and  Peace,  the 
Number  of  Indians  formerly,  and  at  this  Time  in  the  Land,  their 
Situation  and  Circumftances  ;  and  all  other  Matters  fo  far  as  re- 
lates to  a  compleat  Hiftory  of  America  ;  than  by  many  Hours, 
we  may  fay,  a  whole  Winter's  Converfation,  by  fome  who  pre- 
tend to  tell  Indian  Stories  and  the  Affairs  of  our  Fore-Fathers. 

A  Prefent  for  an  Apprentice  :  Or,  a  fme  Guide  to  gain  both 
Efteem  and  Eilate  ;  with  Rules  for  his  Conduce  to  his  Mafter, 
and  in  the  World.     By  a  late  Lord  Mayor  of  London, 

Praftical  Difcourfes  on  the  Parable  of  the  Ten  Virgins.  Being  a 
ferious  Call  and  Admonition  to  Watchfulnefs  and  Diligence  in  pre- 
paring for  Death  and  Judgment.  By  Benjamin  Colman,  D.  D.  Paf- 
torofaChurchin  Bojtonj  New- England. 

WATTS' s  44  Sermons  bound  in  one  Volume. 

Three  valuable  Pieces.  Viz.  StleEk  Cafes  Refolved  ;  Fird 
Principles  of  the  Oracles  of  GOD,  or.  Sum  of  Chriflian  Religion  ; 
Both  correfted  by  four  feveral  Editions  :  And  a  private  Diary  ; 
Containing  Meditations  and  Experiences  never  before  Publifhed. 
By  Thomas  Shepard,  M.  A.  Of  Emmanuel  College  in  Ca?nbridge'm 
England  :  Afterward  Minifter  of  the  Church  of  Cambridge  in  Nkv- 
England,    With  fome  Account  of  che  Rev.  Author. 


■^^ 


SERMON 

Preached  before  the 

9 

Synod  of  NETT-TORKy 

Convened  at 

Newark,    in  New-Jersey, 

September  30,    1756. 


'By  AARON  BUFtR,  A.  M.   Preftdent  of  the  College 
of  New-Jersey. 

Publijhed  by  the  Desire   of  the  Synod. 

\  Zecha.  xiv,  6,  7.     And  it  ftiall  come  to  pafs,  in  that  Day,  that  the 
\      Light  (hall  not  be  clear,  nor  dark  ;    but  it  (hall  be  one  Day  which 

fhall  be  known  to  the  Lord  ;   not  Day,  nor  Night :  But  it  Ihall  come 

to  pafs,  that  at  Evening  Time,  it  (hall  be  Light. 


N  E    IV  -    r  O    R  K: 

Printed  and  Sold  by  H.  Gaine,  at  the  Bible  ^  Crown, 
in  Slueen-Jireet,  between  the  Fly  and  Meal- Markets,  i  yc^S. 


j-ne  ^^^"^  .1^ 


(    3     ) 


S   E   R   M   O    N, 


c. 


,  ISAIAH  xxi.    II,  12. 

^'be  Burden  of  DuMAH.  He  calleth  tome  mt  of  Seib:» 
JVatebmcn,  What  of  the  Night  ?  IVatchfiian,  What  of  the 
Night  ?  TheJVatchmanfaid,  The  Morning  cometh^  andalfo 
the  Nighty  if  ye  will  enquire  i  enquire,  ye  j  return  j  come. 

IT  may  doubdefs,  at  firft  View,  appear ftrange  Wttaj 
Brethren,  that  I  have  choien  this  ohfeure  Paffage  <?f 
facred  Writ  for  your  Entertainment ;  when  it  might 
be  expected,   that  the  Dignity  and  Duties ;  the  Com- 
forts and  Trials  of  the  minifterial  Office  fhould  be  explained, 
or  the  beft  Method  of  fecuring  good  DifcipHne  and  found 
Do6trine  in  the  Church, laid  open.     Thefc  Subjefts,  I  con- 
fels,  are  highly  proper  to  be  infilled  on,  and  (hould  gene- 
rally be  the  Topics  of  our  Difcourfe,  on  fuch  Occafions  asi 
thefe.     But,  fome  dark  Apprehenfions,  as  to  the  Titnes  into 
which  we  are  fallen,  turned  my  Mind  to  this  Subje<5l: : 
And  as  it  will  lead  our  Thoughts  to  the  prefent  Dangers 
and  Trials  ;  to  the  farther  Profpe^s  and  Hopes  relating  to 
the  Church  of  Christ,  it  will,  I  imagine,  when  properly 
Explained  and  applied,  be  thought  not  unfuitablc  for  thofe, 
who  are  alTembled  to  confultits  Welfare  and  Frofperity, 
What  I  fhall  attempt,  is, 
1,  To  explain  the  Words,  and  illufirate  the  Frophefy^  hy 
fuch  hidorkal  E'vents,  tis  fecm  to  point  mt  the  Fulfilment  of 
iti  in  its  primary  Vie^^J, 


A 


il.  Jpply 


(     4    ) 

II.  Jppty  it  to  the  State  of  the  Church  in  genera^  and  t» 
the  Times  into  which  ijoe  are  fallen,  in  particular. 

This  enigmatical  Prophejyy  feems  in  its  primary  View^ 
to  denote  fome  further  Calamity  on  the  Idu means,  after 
the  Jews  fliould  be  delivered  from  the  Darknefs  they  were 
then  under  j  that  while  the  Morning  arofe  to  the  one,  thfi 
Night  Ihould  be  continued  to  the  other.  It  is  called  the 
Burden  of  Dumah,  becaufe  it  brings  fad  and  dark  Tydings,. 
what  would  prove  an  heavy  Burden,  hard  to  be  born. 
Dumah  here,  by  a  Contradion  not  unuflial  in  the  facred 
Writings,  feems  evidently  to  be  put  for  Edom  -,  and  fo 
for  the  Country  Idumea,  where  the  Edomites  dwelt. 
This  appears  plain,  by  Seir's  being  mentioned  as  the 
Place  from  whence  the  Voice  came,  which  was  that  moun- 
tainous Part  of  Idumea,  that  lay  next  to  the  Land  of 
Canaan.  The  Septuagint  therefore  well  tranflate  it. 
To*  Horamatees  Idumaias,  i.  e.  the  Vifion  of  Idumea.  la 
thh prophetic  Scene,  there  is  one  from  that  Country  intro- 
duced, as  addrefling  the  Prophet  in  great  Earneftnefs, 
about  the  State  of  the  Night,  or  that  State  of  Affliction 
and  Oppreflion,  which  both  the  Jews  and  Idumeans 
were  under.  He  calleth  (or  there  is  one  that  calleth,  or 
crieth)  to  me  out  of  Seik.  The  Word  muft  be  taken  col^ 
U5lively,  not  denoting  a  particular  Perfon,  q.  d.  there  is  a 
Cry,  or  the  Voice  of  thofe  that  cry  from  that  Country  •,  this 
appears  from  the  Anfwer  of  the  Prophet,  If  ye  will  enquire,, 
^c.  *Tis  obferved  that  the  original  Word  Karah,  has  aa 
£.mphafis  in  it,  and  denotes  the  Cry  of  Men  in  Angyilh  and 
Diitreis,  impatiently  waiting  to  fee  the  End,  of  their  C^/^- 
mity,  and  the  Dawn,  of  the  Morning  of  their  Deliverance. 
This  fhews  a  Beauty  in  the  fcenical  Reprefentation  -,  as  the 
Prophet  is  on  the  WatchrTower  among  the  Jews,  at  a. 
great  Diftance  from  Mount  Seir,  the  Voice  muft  be  loud, 
in  order  to  be  heard.  The  Queftion  follows,  "  IVatchman,, 
*\PVhat  of  the  Night,  or  from,  or  concerning  the  Night  J" 
The  Conjciflure  of  Cocceius,  and  fome  other  learned  Com- 
mentators, that  the  Voice  is  direfted  to  GOD  the  Father^ 
under  the  Character  of  a  IVatchmanj  becaufe  hs  is  ftilcd 

the 


£k>:- 


(  5  ) 
the  Keeper  of  Israel  ;  or  to  the  Son,  who  is  reprefented 
as  the  Shepherd  of  his  People^  I  think  groundlefs.  It  is  not 
fuppofable,  that  the  Idumeans  had  any  fuch  diftinfl  Notion 
ot  the  Father  or  the  Son^  as  to  addrefs  one  or  the  ether  by 
this  Title.— To  apply  it  to  the  Prophet  hiwfelf,  feems  much 
more  natural ;  the  Prophets  being  well  known  by  the 
Character  of  Watchmen.^  as  pointing  out  the  Defign  and 
Duties  of  their  Office  :  And  thus  they  are  frequently  ftiled 
in  Jacred  }Vrit*  1  have  fet  Watchmen  on  thy  Walls^  O  Je r u- 
SALEM,  ^^  I  have  made  thee^  fays  GOD  to  Ezekiel,  a 
"  Watchman  to  the  Houfe  of  Israel/'-j-  The  Character  is 
taken  from  thofe  that  are  let  to  guard  a  City,  or  on  a  Watch- 
*Tower  to  defcry  approaching  Danger,and  give  the  Signal  : 
And  they  ought  to  be  Men  of  Courage,  that  will  not  be 
frighted  at  the  Shaking  of  a  Leaf-,  faithful,  who  will  not 
betray  theirTruft;  vigilant,  that  will  not  fuffer  the  Enemy 
to  come  by  Surprize  while  they  are  afleep  •,  quick  fighted,  to 
fpy  the  Danger;  confiant  and  unwearied m  their  Attendance 
■on  the  Duties  of  their  Station ;  and  being  continually  awake, 
k  might  be  expeded  could  readily  give  the  Hour  of  the 
Night.  'Tis  eafy  to  fee  how  applicable  this  is,  not  only  to 
the  Prophets,  but  to  all  the  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel,  who 
are  fet  as  Watchmen,  on  the  Walls  of  God's  Jerufalem ; 
whofe  Z)«/y  and  Bufinefs  it  is,  to  watch  over  the  Heritage 
of  the  Lord  ;  to  give  fealbnable,  plain  and  faithful  Warn- 
ing to  Saints  and  Sinners.  The  various  remarkable  Dif- 
penfations  of  God  to  his  Church,\^tTt  revealed  to  the  Pro^ 
fhets'j  they  foretold  the  defolating  Judgments  that  were 
brought  not  only  on  the  JewSy  but  the  neighbouring  Na^' 
irons ;  knew  fomething  of  the  Time,  Manner  and  Dura- 
tion of  the  dark  Night  they  had  to  pafs  through  ;  and  fo 
might  properly  be  enquired  of  as  to  this  Matter—Watch- 
man, What  of  the  Night  ?  What  have  you  difcovered  as  to^ 
theState  of  thtNight  ?  How  far  is  it  advanced  ?  What  rc-^ 
mains  ?  Do  you  difccrn  any  Signs  of  the  Msrning  ?  Any 

Signs 


*  IsAi.  Ixii,  6,  t  EzEK,  iji,  17, 


(  «  ) 

Signs  that  the  prefent  Scene  of  Barknefs  will  foon  be  over? 
The  Qiieftion  is  undoubtedly  not  about  a  natural  but  we- 
taphorical  Night,— that  State  of  Calamity  and  Dijirefs  the 
Jezi^s  and  Idumeans  were  under  by  the  AJfyrians  or  Babylo- 
Jtians ;  or,  that  dark  Difpenfation  of  the  Law^  the  End  of 
which  was  then  expected,  and  earneftly  defired.  The 
Repetition  of  it,  reprefents  the  Panic  they  were  in  j  their 
JDtJirefs^  or  rather  their  Impatience,  for  an  Anfwer. 

It  may  perhaps  fcem  ftrange  zx.firji  View^xhdX  the  Idu- 
means fhould  make  this  Inquiry.  What  had  they  to  do 
with  the  Prophets  or  the  divine  Oracles  ?^  Who  were  Aliens 
from  the  Common-Wealth  of  Ifrael,  and  Strangers  from  the 
Covenant  of  Promife.— But,  the  Difficulty  will  vanifh,  if 
we  confider  that  the  Scheme  of  this  Prophefy  is  cmblma- 
ileal  and  figurative.  The  Idumeans  are  introduced  here 
hy  the  Prophet,  as  breathing  alter  Deliverance  under 
their  Calamities,  and  making  fuch  anxious  Inquiries  as  it  is 
natural  to  fuppofe  a  People  in  their  Situation  would  ;  and 
hearing  that  Deliverance  was  expeded  by  xkitjewiflo  N(^tkny, 
il  was  natural  for  them  to  defire  to  know  the  Time  and 
Manner  of  it,  in  Hopes  they  alfo  might  Share  in  its  Fa- 
vour.—To  this  may  be  added — That  the  eaflern  Nations 
had  a  Veneration  for  the  Prophets  of  the  God  of  Ifrael, 
whofe  Fame  was  fpread  among  them.  And  if  we  apply 
it  to  the  then  dark  State  ot  the  Church,  an  Enquiry  refpe<5b- 
ing  a  more  glorious  Difpenfation,  in  which  themfelves,. 
and  all  the  gentile  World  were  concerned,  comes  from  them^ 
with  fingular  Propriety.  Some  fuppofe  the  Queftion  put 
by  way  of  Derifion,  but  I  think  without  Foundation  •,  had' 
'that  been  the  Cafe,  the  Prophet  would  have  given  them  a 
very  different  Anfwer.  They  feem  to  have  a  Degree  o£ 
Earnejlnefs  about  the  Matter,  and  yet  do  not  enquire  with, 
that  Faith,  and  fuch  religious  Views  as  they  ought.  This, 
is  evident  from  the  Prophets  reply.  The  Morning  comethj, 
mdalfo  the  Night,  if  ye  will  enquire;  enquire,  ye ;  return;  come.. 
(i,  e.)  The  Morning  will  be  as  dangerous  as  the  Night, hy 
ibme..    Others  tranflate  it,  theM?m«^comethj,  and  yet 

iti 


(  7  ) 
it  is  Nigbf.  i.  e.  Tho'  there  be  a  Deliverance  fr6m  prefeht 
Calamities,  yet  it  will  be  hut  partial ',  Light  comes,  but 
Darknefs  will  be  intermixed  with  it ;  or  according  to  our 
Tranflation,  The  Morning  cometh,  hut  the  Night  will  Jo  on 
fticceed.  It  may  mean.  That  the'  the  Morning  is  coming 
to  the  People  of  God,  it  would  ftill  be  Night  with  the  Idu- 
means.  'Tis  eafy  to  fee,  that  as  Night  is  put  for  a  State  of 
Jffli^lion,  Day  is  a  proper  Emblem  of  Joy  and  Comfort. 
If  ye  will  enquire',  enquire,  ye;  return;  come.  I'he  o\6.Englifh 
Tranflation  undt^  Henry  the^lllth,  has  it  thus,  "  If  ye  will 
**  enquire  indeed,  and  ajk  ^efiions  in  Earnejl, enquire  of  God  ; 
*"'  fi^f^  ^fi  ^^^  Mercy,  and  then  come  again,  andyoujhall  have 
"  a  more  favourable  Anfwer^^  which  feems  not  far  from 
the  true  Meaning. 

As  the  Queftion,  tho'  not  put  with  that  Serioufnefs  and 
Sincerity  as  it  ought,  implied  a  Defire  to  know  the  Pur- 
pofe  of  God  relating  to  t\itv:  frefent  dark  and  difmal  Situ- 
ation ;  the  Anfwer  feems  to  be  to  this  Purpofe,  viz. 
Since  you  Idumeans,  in  your  diftrcffed  Condition,  feem  to 
come  to  yourfelves,  exprefs  a  Defire  of  returning  to  God, 
and  knowing  his  Will  concerning  you,  be  in  earneft  in  the 
Matter,  enquire  with  Hearts  fuitably  affed:ed,  with  the 
Difpenfations  of  divine  Providence,  with  finc^re<Defires  to 
know  and  comply  with  your  Duty.  Return  to  the  God  of 
Ifrael,  come  into  the  Bofom  and  Communion  of  the  Church  , 
fince  you  arc  defcended  from  Abraham,  fhew  yourfelves 
to  be  his  Children  indeed  -,  come  with  Sincerity  and  Faithy 
to  me  and  the  other  Prophets,  to  know  the  Mind  and  Will 
of  God,  and  be  fuitably  prepared  to  meet  him,  when  he 
fhall  come  forth  againft  you.  The  Sum  of  what  I  have  faid. 
is  this:  Th.t  neighbouring  Nations,  groaning  under  the  fame 
Opprefllon  from  the  JJJyrian  and  Babylonifh  Princes,  as  the 
Jews 'were,  tho*  the  peculiar  People  oi  God,  and  favoured 
with  his  true  Prophets ;  the  Idumeans  are  introduced,,  en- 
quiring after  the  Duration^  and  End  of  this  common  Cala- 
mity, in  too  carelefs  a  Manner,  with  too  little  Reverence 
©r.  religious  Senfe  of  the  Divine  Difpenfation.  They  have 
for  Anfwer,  That  the  Morning  was  coming,  i.  e.,  Light  and 

Liberty 


_    J 


(  «  )' 

JLibertyXQihe  Je<S)S;  but  that  the  AT/V/^/ftill  awaited  them  •, 
i.  e.  their  prefent  Afflidions  and  fpiritual  Darknefs,  would 
rontinue,  while  they  maintain'd  their  prefent  Temper  of 
Mind  towards  God,  and  remained  Sirangers  to  the  Common- 
Wealth  of  Ifrael.  He  therefore  exhorts  them  to  return  to 
God,  and  enquire  with  a  religious  Difpofition,  and  right 
Views  about  this  Matter. 

This  Interpretation  maybe  illuftrated  hy  hiftoricalEvents\ 
either  by  refering  it  to  the  common  Calamities  that  befel 
the  Jezvs  and  Idumsans^  with  other  neighbouring  Nations^ 
under  Senacherib  King  of  yl/fyria\  or  to  that  which  after- 
ward befel  them  under  the  Kings  of  Babylon.  If  to  the 
former,  the  Morning  that  arofe  to  the  Jews,  muft  be  the 
miraculous  Deliverance  granted  them,  by  the  terrible  De- 
ftrudion  of  the  Afjyrian  Army  by  an  Angel.J  The  like 
Deliverance  not  being  granted  to  the  Idumeans,  with  them 
it  remained  Night.  But,  I  rather  fuppofe  it  may  refer  to 
the  Babylonifh  Captivity,  which  involved  the  Jews  and 
Idumeans  in  one  common  Night  of  Calamity  and  Diftrefs, 
after  which  long  Night,  wherein  the  Church  feemed  as  it 
were  buried,  a  glorious  Morning  arofe  to  the  Jews,  from  the 
Deliverance  granted  by  Cyrus  %  while  the  Idumeans  conti- 
nued in  Darknefe'j.as  appears  by  Malachi,'who  lived  after 
the  Retui'n  of  the  Jews  from  the  Babylonijh  Captivity  ;  and 
defcribes  the  Idumeans  as  impoverifhed,  unable  to  return 
and  rebuild  their  wafte  Places;  being  under  the  peculiar 
Difpleafure  of  Heaven. §         We  come  now, 

II.  To  another  View  in  which  this  prophetic  Defcription 
may  be  taken,  and  with  Propriety  applied  to  fome  remarkable 
Periods  in  the  Church. 

As  the  Prophets  were  fet  as  Watchmen,  on  the  Walls  of 
God's  Jerufalem,  to  publifli  his  Defigns  of  Mercy  and 
Judgment  to  the  Church  and  the  World ;  fuch  as  were 
concerned  to  know  the  Times  and  Seafons  of  God's  favour- 
ing his  Zion,  would  naturally  enquire  at  their  Mouths,  and 
as  the  Idumeans  fprang  originally  from  the  fame  Family 

with 

:J'^v  '.X    %  2  Kings,  xix,  35,  §  Mai.  i.  i*  2»  3»  4* 


(  9  ) 
■With  the  Jews,  and  bordered  upon  them,  they  had  doubf- 
lefs  fome  acquaintance  with  their  facredlVritings.  Some 
Prophefies  had  a  particular  Reference  to  them.  It  was 
foretold,  that  Edom  Jhould  be  a  Pojfejfton,  and  Scir  a  Pcf- 
fejfion  of  their  Enemies  *  It  is  natural  therefore  to  fuppoic, 
that  the  more  thoughtful  among  them,  were  looking  for 
this  Period,  and  being  opprefled  with  Difficulties,  were 
excited  to  enquire  after  the  Time  when  they  fhould  be 
delivered  from  their  fpiritual  Darknefs,  and  united  to  the 
People  of  God.  This  Prophefy  of  Edont's  being  a  Pojfejfwn 
of  their  Enemies,  was  in  Part  accomplifhed  under  the  Af- 
monean  Family,  when  the  Edomites  were  fubdued  by  the 
Jews,  many  of  them  brought  to  embrace  their  Religicnj 
and  their  Country  became  their  Poffeffwn.  To  this  Time, 
the  Prophet  may  have  a  View,  when  'tis  fuppofed  they 
would  not  negledt  the  facred  IVritings,  but  get  fomc 
Acquaintance  with  thofc  Prophefies,wherein^/cn^«j  Things 
were  fpoken  of  Zion,  when  the  prefent  dark  and  gloomy 
Difpenfation  Ihould  be  at  an  end,  and  the  Gentiles  partake 
of  tht  fame  Privileges  with  the  Jews.  This  muft  excite 
in  all  who  had  any  due  Efteem  for  fpiritual  Blejfmgs,  a 
Defire  to  be  informed  whea  the  happy  Mra  would  arrive. 
In  this  View,  the  ^efiion,  the  Jnfwer  of  the  IVatchma^i^ 
hh  Admonition,  toreturaand  continue  their  Enquiries  with 
more  Serioufnefs  and  better  Views,  all  appear  naturaUnd 
proper.. 

By  the  Night,  we  may  underftand  the  obfcure  Difpen- 
fation they  were  then  under,  which  was  ufhered  in  with 
Blacknefs,  Darknefs,  and  a  thick  Tempefi.  It  is  therefore 
called  a  Minijlration  of  Death,  and  Condemnation,  and  pro- 
ved fo  to  the  carnal  Jews,  who  refted  in  the  Law  graven 
en  Stones,  not  looking  to  him  who  was  the  End  of  it  for 
Right eoiifnefs  to  all  that  believe. 

That  Minijlration  was  indeed  glorious,  as  it  refered  to, 
and  pointed  out  the  Glories  of  the  Gofpel  j  but  how  divinely 
glorious  foever  it   was   in  itfelf,    yet  in  Refped  to  the 

tranfcending 

*  Numb,  xxiv,  iS, 


(     to     ) 

tr'anfcending  Glory  of  that  Difpenfation  of  Light  and 
Grace,  which  it  fhadowed  forth,  it  might  be  faid  to  have 
no  Glory  ;  the  Luftre  of  it  was  fwallowed  up  by  the  fur- 
pafling  Glory  of  the  Go/pel,  as  the  dim  Light  of  the  Moi>n 
and  twinkling  Stars,  vanifhes  before  the  rJ/ing  Sun.  This 
Difpenfation  was  not  ou\y gloomy  and  dark^  when  compared 
to  the  fuperior  Light  of  the  Chrijlian  Revelation,  but  was 
•in  a  peculiar  Manner  fo,  by  Reafon  of  the  Blindnefs,  Pre- 
judices and  Unbelief,  of  thofe  to  whom  it  was  given  ; 
which  is  fitly  reprefented  by  the  Fail  Mofes  put  on  his 
Face  while  he  delivered  them  the  Law,  to  cover  its  daz- 
zling Brightnefs,  which  they  could  not  behold.  This 
Vaily  the  Apeftle  exprefsly  tells  us,  was  on  their  Hearts '^y 
fo  that  they  could  not  look  to  the  End  of  that  which  was  to  be 
abolifhed.  They  were  as  unable  to  behold  the  Mind  of 
Mofes  in  that  (Economy,  as  they  were  his  Face  •,  when 
he  turned  to  theLord  he  took  off  thcFail  -,  which  implies, 
that  that  Difpenfation,  as  it  came  from  God,  and  was  re- 
vealed toJiim,  was  full  of  Grace,  and  (hone  with  a  divine 
Luftre ;  but  when  he  converfed  with  the  People  he  had  it 
on,  for  the  internal  Glories  of  his  Miniftration  which 
were  delivered  in  Types  and  Figures  of  good  Things  to  comcy 
were  rendered  obfcure  and  dark,  by  the  Blindnefs  and 
Prejudices  of  their  carnal  Hearts.  When  they  fhall  turn 
to  the  Lord,  at  the  bleffed  Period  of  their  general  Conver- 
fion,  this  Vail  fhall  be  taken  away,  and  they  fhall  clearly 
fee  how  xht  glorious  Grace  of  the  Gofpelwus  revealed  under 
all  the  Types  and  Shadows  of  the  Law,  But,  by  Reafon 
of  the  Darknefs  of  their  Minds,  and  the  obfcure  Manner 
in  which  Chrifl,  and  the  Blefllngs  of  his  Kingdom,  were 
then  typified,theCy&«r(ri)  continued  in  a  dark  and  benighted 
State.  There  was  indeed  a  Mixture  of  Light  with  that 
Darknefs  •,  the  Prophets  were  like  fo  many  fhining  Stars 
in  the  Churchy  and  they  had  many  fure  Words  of  Prophefy^ 
to 'Which  they  might  give  Heed  \  but  it  was  only  as  to  a 
Light  fhining  in  a  dark  Place,  till  the  Day-jiar  appear ed^ 
and  the  glorious  Sun  of  Righteoufnefs  arofe.  And 

*  2  Cor.  iii.  13,  14. 


(  tl  ) 

Akd  'tis  worthy  Obfervation,  that  the  Ni^ht  was  pe- 
culiarly ^loomy^  towards  the  Clofe  of  this  Difpenfation, 
when  the  Darknefs  was  much  increafed,  by  almoft  con- 
tinual Perfecutions  and  Oppreffions^  trom  the  Kings  of  Syria^ 
without  i  while  the  internal  Glories  of  it  were  greatly  ob- 
fcured,  and  almoft  wholly  loft,  by  thofe  dangerous  Cor- 
ruptions in  Do£Irifte,  Difcipline  and  IVorJJoip^  which  then 
over-fpread  the  Jewijh  Churck,  and  thofe  fcandalous  Di- 
vifions  into  which  it  fell. 

It  was  alfo  eminently  Nighi^  with  the  gentile  IVorld^ 
who  being  funk  into  deplorable  Darknefs,  were  given 
up  to  the  moft  abominable  Idolatry  and  vile  AflTcdiions; 
But  as  an  Expecflation  of  the  Coming  of  the  Mejfiah^  the 
promifed  Deliverer,  began  now  to  prevail  and  become 
general,  *tis  not  ftrange,  that  fome  among  the  Gentiles^  a^ 
well  as  the  Jews^  are  reprefented,  crying  to  the  Watchman^ 
What  of  the  Night?  When  will  the  Darknefs  of  the  prefent  * 
Difpenlation  be  over,  and  z.  Deliverer  come  out  ^/Zion,  t9 
turn  azvay  htiquity  from  Jacob  ?  When  will  thofe  Times  of 
Ignorance  which  God  has  hitherto  winked  at  in  the  gentile 
IVorld,  be  at  an  End,  and  Light  arife  to  thofe  that  now 
fit  in  the  Region  of  the  Shadow  of  Death  ?  How  much  of 
this  dark  Scafon  is  paft  ?  What  yet  remains  ?  When  will 
the  Day  break  by  the  Appearance  of  that  glorious  Perfony 
who  is  to  be  a  J^ight  to  the  Gentiles ^  and  a  Glory  to  God's 
People  Ifracl  ?  It  might  be  fuppofed,  that  the  Watchmen 
who  were  enquiring  and  fearching  diligently^  what  Manner 
of  Time  the  Spirit  in  them  did  fignify^  when  it  tefiified  before 
Handy  the  Sufferings  of  Chrifl,  and  the  Glory  that  fhould 
followy  could  give  an  Anfwer  to  fuch  aQueftion,  as  the 
Time  and  Manner  of  his  Appearance  were  fo  clearly  pointed 
out.  TKcy  might  fee,  that  the  Scepter  was  about  to  de- 
part from  Judahy  according  to  Jacob's  Prophefy  *,  That 
Daniel's  70  IVeekSy  or  490  Years,  were  near  expiring.  And 
as  it  mufl  be  during  the  Standing  of  the  fecondTempky  to 
which  he  was  fuddenly  to  come,  and  fill  with  his  Glory, 
according  to  Malachi  ||,  it  could  not  be  long  delayed.    By 

B  thefe 

*  Gkv.zHx,  10.  I  M4LACHI  iii|  f. 


(       12       ) 

thefe  Hints,  the  V/atchmen  m'lpfht  know  the  ISJizht  was  far 
fpent^  and  aniv»/er  as  in  the  Text,  The  Morning  cometh,  the 
Ipng  expeded  Day,  is  at  Hand.  In  this  View  of  the 
Words,  the  JVatchman's,  Anfwer,  that  the  Morning  ccmcth^ 
may  point  out  the  Light  and  Joy  brought  to  the  World 
by  the  Appearance  of  the'  Son  of  God.  The  Day  began" 
to  dawn  under  the  Miniflry  of  John  the  Baptiji.  He  was' 
indeed  a  burning  and  a  Jhining  Lights  compared  v/ith  the 
other  Prophets  •,  but  was  not  the  true  Light,  tho'  like  the 
Morning  Star  he  ufhered  in  the  Day.  But,  when  the 
Sun  of  Righteoujnefs,  arofe  with  Healing  under  his  IVings.,  he 
diffufed  Light.,  Life,  and  Joy,  thro'  a  dark,  dead,  and 
chearlefs  World.  The  Shadows  of  the  former  Difpenfa- 
tlon,  and  the  thick  Clouds  of  heathenifh  Ignorance  and  Su- 
ferfliiioyi,  fled  before  him,  as  the  Darknefs_  of  the  Night 
Before  the  rifing  Sun.  It'  was  prophelied  of  him',  that  his 
going  forth,  fhould  he  prepared  as  the  Morning.*  As  the 
natural  Sun  in  the  Morning  fpreads  Joy  and  Gladnefs, 
thro'  the  wide  Creation,  fo  did  Christ  thro'  a  loft  and 
ivUined  World,  The  Angel  brings  the  News  of  his  Birth, 
as  Tidings  ot great  Joy  to  all  People.  The  Gofpei  preached 
in  his  Name,  was  a  ravifhing  Sound  to  all  that  heard  and 
received  it :  Like  the  Morning  Light,  it  fpread  far  and 
wide  ;  grew  brighter  and  brighter,  toy!2ixdiiji  perfe£f  Day. 
It  had  free  Courfe,  and  was  glorified -^^  triumphing  over  all 
.the  Oppofition  of  Earth  and  Hell. 

With  what  divine  Luftre  and  Beauty  did'  the  Church 
•ihine,  in  this  Morning  of  her  Days,  when  the  pure  DoSirin^ 
o?  the  Gofpei,  were  taught  ^>vithout  that  corrupt  Mixture", 
which  the  Pride  and  Ignorance  of  Men  have  fmce  intro- 
du,ced/..  She  was  as  a  City  fet  on  a  Hill,  and  Multitudes 
hoi^l'^ews  and  Gentiles  rejoiced  in  her  Light.  She  feem^ 
tq'anfw'er  the  Defcnptiort  given  of  her,  by  Sit.  John,  m 
ijs  prbphetlc  Vifioh  ;§  where  Aie  is  re|)tefented,  as  clothed 
with  the  Sun,  having  the  Moon  under  her  Feet,  and  a  Crown 
of  1 2  Stars  on  her  Head  -,  a  bfeautifcil  Image,  exprefling,  in 
,^  lively  Mannier,  fhe  Clofy,  ticndur,  and  Digmty  of  the 

:!;..■.,...,-„,. .:■  ..■:■  c,>..  .... .,-^^,.;..,... - . -,.      ...    .,,,Shurch. 

*  Hs:)^EA  ti,  J,    Luke  ii/  i*.    §  Riv.  xif,  i. 


(  13  ^  ) 
Church.  There  appeared  in  her  Members,  in  nhis- ^^r/y 
yige^  fiich  genuine  PzV/y,and  fervent  Devotion  •,  fuch  lively 
Hope^and  llrong  Failh  j  fuch  warm  and  unfeigned  Love  to 
one  another  •,  fuch  Meeknefs^  and  undifTembled  Humility  \ 
fuch  Hcavenly-mindednefs  and  Beadnefs  to  the  World  -,  fuch 
univerfal  Holinefs^  and  Purity  of  Life  •,  as  made  thtmjlmie 
like  Lights  in , the  World.  Religion  then  appeared  amiable 
and  alluring.,  as  exemplified  in  the  Lives  of  ProfefTors  ; 
which  tended  greatly  to  the  propagating  the  Gofpel.  The 
Brightnefs  of  this  Morning  was  foon  obfcured.  Many 
Errors  of, pernicious  Influence  crept  into  the  Church.,  even 

^while  under  the  Conduit  of  infpired  Men  :  But  after  the 
Apojlles  Deceafe,  Mm  of  corrupt  Minds,  began  with  more 
Freedom,  to  propagate  their  dangerous  Dodrines,. .  ^nd 
licentious  Pra6lices,  bringing fwift  DeJiru5lion  on  them fehes, 

'^  and  their  Followers.     Towards  the  Ciofe  of  the  Z?;/?,  and 

^during  the  fecond,  and  third  Centuries.,  the  Church  was 
greatly  infefted  with  Perfons,  who  advanced  the  moft 
abfurd  and  dangerous  Opinions,  tending  to  the  Defirudlion 
of  all  natural  and  revealed  Religio;i  i— the  Nicolaitans,  va- 
rious Se6ls  of  the  Gnojtics,  Corinthians,  Valentinians,  Mar- 
cionites,  and  Manichaans,  with  a  Train  of  other  ,//^r^//<:j-, 
who  appeared  'm.'^f^  early  Ages  of  theChurch;  yen}:ing  mapy 
impious  Notions  about  God  and  Chrijl ;  the,  Origin  of  Gofid 
and  Evil ;  tjie  faired  Writings  \  and  t]:^e.  Way  of.  Salvaiiojt-by 
Chrid  ;  to  the  great  Reproach  and  Hindrance  of  the  Gof- 
pel.—Some  makingGoD  theyfz^/i^orofSin  J  others  denyino- 
the  Unity  of  the  Godhead  v  fome  the  Divinity  sZnd  many  the 
Hmnanity  of  Christ  ;  whilq  others  even  blaiphemoufly  pre- 
tended to  be  the  Saviour  of  the.  World  thcmfelyes.     What 

c^  added  to  the  Scandal  of  their  Errors,  ;hevilefVz3^^^«^/??m>j, 
—the  moft  abominable  Cn'^^^j  were  countenanced  and  prac- 
tifed,  under  the  Cloak  of  Religion  j  which  i\\^  Enemies  pi 

..  Chriftianity,  \yere  malicious  enpugh  to  impute,  howeyer 
unjuftly,,  to  all  its  ProfeiTors.  Whil^  the  Church  was  thus 
darkened,,  corrupted,, and  exceedingly /candalifei by  He- 
reiies  within;  ihe  was  almofl;  continually  harralTed  with 
violent  Pppreaipfis\^an,d   cruel ,  |^ej:fpcu.tions,'  ui>der  the 

heatheH 


(    u    ) 

h-eathen  Ernfcrcrs  Uovn  withot-.t  \  v-'hich  continued  with  but 
little  Intervals  uf  Peace  and  Rejl^  during  the  three  firll 
Centuries.  Tho'  there  was,  in  thole  early  Ages  of  Chrvfli- 
anity,  much  fpiritual  Light,  and  plentiful  Comnnunica- 
tions  ofDivine  Gra'e-,  yet  during  the  itn  genercil  Pcrfe- 
'  cutions^  which  ib  quickly  fucceeded  one  another,  it  might 
'  well  be  called  Nii^ht  \  when  comt^arej  to  that  State  of  f:v- 
tcrnal  Peace  and  Profperit)\  which  the  Church  fhall  enjoy 
in  the  latter  Days,  dire,  with  Refpect  to  the  glorious  Diffu- 
fion  of  Go/pel  Light,  which  may  then  be  expefted. 

At  the  Clofe  of  t'ne  third,  and  Beginning  oi  tht  fourth 

'Century,  the  Church  v^as  reduced  to  the  hii  Extremity,  by 

'a  Number  of  cruel  Perlecutors,  who  feemed  to  combine 

together,  for  the  utter  Deftrudion  of  the  Chriflian  Name 

t  and  Caufe.     Galerius,  Diocletian,  Maximin,  and  Maxentius, 

*  afted  as  if  they  vi-^d  with  one  another,  in  the  unheard  of 

^■Cruelties,  and  monftrous  Barbarities,  exercifed  towards  the 

innocent  Difciples  of  Christ  :  But  the  Churches  Extremity, 

is  GoD*s  Opportunity  >  He  begins  to  make  bare  his  Arm  ; 

vifibly  to  efpoufe  tht- Caufe  of  his  diftrefled  People  ;  and 

to  recompence  Vengeance  to  thofe  that  affli5fed  them.     Galerius, 

being  feized  with   an  incurable  and  intolerable  Dileafe, 

expires  in  the  Midft  of  moft  bitter  Ahgliifh  and  Torm.ent. 

Diocletian,  forced  to  rcfign  his  Authority,  opprelTed  with 

a  Load  o^  Guilt,  groans  and  fighs  away  his  miferable  Life. 

Maximin,  after  being  defeated  by  Licinius,  attempts  to  put 

an  End  to  his  own  Life ;    but  dies  a  lingering  Death, 

amidft  the  moft  amazing  Torment.*?,  acknowledging  his 

Guilt,  in  having  perfecuted  the  Chrijlians.     In  this  dark 

Period,  God  alfo  raifes  up  that  great  Deliverer  and  Defcn- 

■  der  of  his  Church,  Conjiantine  ;  who,  yf.  D.  312,  gains  a 

compleat  Vidiory  over  that  cruel  Tyrant  and  grand  Per- 

fecutor,  Maxentius ;  which  gave  reft  to  the  Church  in  the 

TVeJi  :  And  the  Death  of  Licinius,  which  happened  foon 

after,  who  was  firft  a  Favourer,  but  afterwards  a  cruel 

Perfecutor  of  the  Chriftians,  feemed  to  put  an  End  to  all 

their  Troubles :  They  enjoyed  free  Liberty  every  where.— 

Conjlantine  afcribcs  the  Glory  of  all  his  Victories,  to  the 

God 


(  '5  ) 
Gcd  and  Father  of  our  Lord^  Jes'js  Christ.  .  Aiul  as  a 
Token  of  Gratitude-,  gives  public  Councer.anct  to  the 
Chrijlian  Religion  \  iccurcs  it  by  EdiiTis  and  Laivs  ;  creto 
Schools  •,  builds  and  cp.dows  CLurchcs  •,  bcftowf,  many  ]m~ 
miDuties  and  Privileges  on  the  Clergy,  and  diitinguifiiLS 
thera  with  many  public  Marks  of  Honour  and  Rej'pcci. 
'i  hus  the  Darknefs  which  had  ovcrfpread  the  Church^bt^zn 
to  fcatter,  and  the  Morni.ig  to  appear.  The  Gofpe!  had 
free  Ccurfc  and  was  glorified  •,  there  was  opened  an  effectual 
Door^  which  no  Man  was  allowed  to  {liur.  A  delightful 
Scene  feemed  now  to  open  on  the  Churchy  and  looked  like 
the  Beginning  of  a  bright  and  glorious  Day.  Many  had 
r ai fed  Expectations,  that  the  happy  Period  was  now  come, 
when  the  Kingdoms  of  this  IVorld^  '■jaould  become  the  Kingdoms 
cf  our  Lord^  and  his  Chrifl  :  But  alas  !  how  different  did 
the  Event  prove.  This  Alcrning  was  foon  overcafl,  and 
fucceeded  by  a  dark  and  diimal  Night.  The  Honouri, 
Dignities  and  Riches  conferred  on  the  Clergy^  and  the 
Church,  introduced  Luxury,  Pride  and  Ignorance,  with 
a  long  Train  of  dangerous  Confequences.  About  this 
'I'ime,  the  Arian  Herefy  fprung  up,  and  fpreading  itfelf  over 
a  great  Part  of  the  Chrijlian  Church,  proved  deitru£bive 
to  the  Faith  once  delivered  to  the  Saints  •,  threw  the  Church 
into  great  Confurions,and  produced  very  fore  Perfecutions : 
The  Emperors  favouring  fometimes  the  Arian^  and  fomc- 
times  the  orthodox  Party  ;  which  brought  infinite  Scandal 
on  the  Chriflian  Name,  and  caufed  the  Enemy  to  blaf- 
pheme. 

SooM  after  Chriftianity  had  fpread  over  a  great  Part  of 
the  Roman  Empire,  under  Protedion  of  the  Government-, 
the  moft  terrible  Defolation,  was  brought  on  the  IVefiern 
Empire,  by  the  northern  barbarous  Nations,  i/iz.  the 
Goths,  Vandals,  Almains,  Sarmatians,  Pi5ls  and  Scots  -,  who 
feemed  to  confpire  together  for  its  utter  Ruin,  and  for  a 
long  I'ime  continued  wafting,  burning,  and  deftroying 
all  before  them.  About  A.  D.  410,  Alaricus  the  Goth, 
facked  and  plundered  Rome  \  about  Fifty-five  Years  after 
which,  it  was  again  plundered,  and  burnt  by  Genfericus., 

the 


(  I6  ) 

the  Vandal.  Soon  after,  it  met  with  the  fame  Fate  from 
Ruhomerus  472  ;  twice  by  Totiln  •,  and  again  by  Attila^ 
King  of  tlie  Huns.,  who  was  above' all  the  Reft,  a  fore 
Scourge.,  in  the  Hand  of  Providence,  to  the  degenerate 
Chriftians  of  that  Day. 

While  the  Empire  was  in  this  dreadful  Confufion,  by 
thofe  barbarous  Nations^  grofs  Ignorance  began  to  over- 
fpread  the  Chrifiian  World  \  for,  by  the  Ravages  they  com- 
mitted. Schools  were  difiipated,  Minijlers  baniflied,  and 
Learning  buried.  Thofe  who  were  then  on  the  Stage^  being 
loon  wafted  with  the  Sword  and  Age;  the  rifing  Generation 
;grev/  up  in  lamentable  Ignorance.  The  moft  indeed  of  the 
JRulers  of  thofe  barbarous  Nations  embraced  Chriftianity,; 
but  being  very  Ignorant,  became  an  eafy  Prey  to  the  Pride 
and  Policy  of  the  corrupt  and  degenerate  Clergy  of  the  Day. 
This  Opportunity  the  BifJoop  of  Rome  improved,  to  fet  him- 
felf  up  as  the  Head  of  the  Church  j  the  Succejfor  of  St. 
Peter  •,  Christ's  Vicar  on  Earth  ;  and  found  it  but  too 
eafy  a  Matter  to  impofe  on  thofe  weak  Princes.,  and  an 
ignorant  People,  and  thus  to  introduce  thofe  grofs  Corrup- 
tions., Superjiitions.,  and  falfe  Do^rines,  which  have  fince 
proved  fo  fatal  to  the  Church.  Thus  Antichrid  began  to 
be  revealed,  and  gradually  grew  up  to  that  Height  of 
Wickednefs,  which  he  afterwards  difcovered  •,  exalting 
himfelf.  above  all  that  is  called  God.  The  Darknefs  of  this 
'iVz^i?/,  brought  on  the  Church,  by  Ignorance,  Superftition, 
and  the  abominable  Corruptions,  of  Popery,  were  greatly 
increafed  by  the  Rife  of  that  falfe  Prophet  and  grand  Im- 
poftor  Mahomet,  who  made  his  Appearance,  A.  D.  606  j 
and  notwithftanding  the  People  ot'Jdecca,  attempted  to 
crufh  the  I?npof  ore  in  the  Bud,  yet,  A.  D.  615,  it  began 
to  fprcad  ;  for  having  by  an  apoftate  Je-za,  and  Neftorian 
Monk,  cpmpofed  his  Alcoran,  and  deluded  his  Followers, 
with  a  Notion  of  his  being  railed  up  by  God,  to  inftitute 
y.'fiew  Religion;,  he  teaches  them,  that  it  is  to  be  propaga.te^ 
by  the  Sword,  and  that  it  is  meritorious  to  die  for  it.:-— 
-jBy  this JVleans, -he  foon  brought  ^\4rabia  into  his  Power-, 
an4  his  Follower*?  (wjio,  Jroip.xheir  pretended  Pefcent 

from 


(     17     ) 
from  Sarah,  Abraham's  Wife,  were  called  Saracens)  foon 
over- run  the  greateft  Part  of  Jfia^  and  began  to  fpread 
themfelves  exceeding  fall  in  Europe^  till  their  memorable 
Defeat  by  Charles  Mart  el.  A,  D.  734. 

The-  Miferies  brought  on  the  Chru'cian  Church,'  by  the 
Spread  of  this  Impoftore,  were  exceeding  great.  The 
glorious  Light  of  the  Gofpel,  which  began  to  beobfcured, 
with  the  Errors  and  Corruptions  of  the  Church  of  Rcme^ 
feemed  as  if  it  would  have  been  wholly  extinguifhed.  By 
this.xhzy  brought  fuch  Ignorance  and  Error,  Deceit^  Yio-; 
lence  and  Slavery,  where  ever  they  came,  that  it  feeraedr 
as  if  the  bottomlefs  Pit  had  been  opened,  and  Satan  atr 
the  Head  of  the  Powers  of  Darknefs,  come  forth,  accor- 
ding to  the  prophetic  Defcription  of  the  Rife  of  this  hn~ 
pofiore.  Rev.  IX.  2.  And  he  opened  the  bottomlefs  Pit,  and 
there  arofe  a  Smoke  out  of  the  Pit,  as  the  Smoke  of  a  great 
Furnace,  and  the  Sun  and  Air  were  darkened  by  Reafon  of  th. 
Smoke  of  the  Pit,  and  cut  of  the  Smoke  Locujls  came,  which- 
fitly  enough  defcribes  the  Miiery  and  Woe,  ftupid  Igno- 
rance and  Superftition,  which  every  where  attended  the 
Progrefs  of  the  Mahometan  Religion.  The  coming  up  .ot 
the  Locufis,  and  Deftrudion  they  make  where  ever  they 
go,  emphatically  reprefents  the  amazing  and  deflrud:ive 
Progrefs  of  the  Saracens. 

This  dark  and  difmal  Night,  brought  on  the  Church 
by  the  Rife  of  Popery,  on  the  one  Hand,  and  the  Maho- 
metan Impoftore  on  the  other,  continued  for  a  long  Time 
with  but  a  little  glimmering  of  Gofpel  Light,  among  a 
few  that  kept  the  Faith  :  Religion  and  Learning  feemed 
likely  to  be  banillied  from  the  World.  But  at  the  Clofe 
of  the  15th,  and  Beginning  of  the.  1 6th  Centuries,  the 
Day  began  to  dawn.,  by  a  glorious  Reformation,  which 
had  been  attempted,  and  ftruggled  for,  by  Wickliff,  in 
England  \  the  Waldenfes  and  Albigenfes,  in  France  ;  and 
John  Hufs,  in  Germany,  long  before ;  But  was  now  car- 
ried on  by  Luther,  under  the  Prote6lion  of  the  Ele£lor  of 
Saxony,  with  furprizing  Succefs,  in  many  Parts  of  Germany  -^ 
who  was  joined  by  Melan£ion,  and  other  nobk  Reformers  ; 

whilft 


(  i8  ) 
vvhilfl:  Calvin,  at  Geneva,  Zwinglius  and  Farellus,  with  a 
Train  of  faithful  Witnefles  for  the  Truth,  who  appeared 
about  this  Time,  were  flrenuoufly  fupporting,  and  vigo- 
roufly  carrying  on,  (tho'  with  fome  fmall  Difference,  in 
leiTer  Matters)  the  fame  glorious  Caufe,  The  Light  of 
the  Gofpel  feemed  for  a  Seafon  to  fhine  brighter  and 
brighter,  fpread  far  and  wide  in  Spite  of  all  the  Methods 
the  Popijh  Party  made  ufe  of,  by  Bulls,  Decrees  cf  Councils, 
and  the  moft  unheard  of  Cruelties,  to  flop  and  fupprefs  it. 
The  Pope^i  Authority  began  very  fafi:  to  decline.  The 
Nations  of  England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland,  the  northern 
Kingdoms  of  Denmark  and  Szveden,  with  great  Numbers 
in  France,  Hungary  and  Bohemia,  all  received  the  Reforma- 
tion, and  difclaimed  any  Subjeftion  to  the  Kingdom  of  the 
Berjl. 

These  Things  appeared  like  the  Beginning  of  a  joyful 
Day,  and  many  were  ready  to  think,  the  glorious  Things 
fpoken  of  Zion,  in  the  latter  Days,  were  now  at  Hand, 
There  appeared  in  many  of  the  firfl:  Reformers,  fuch  a 
Love  to  the  Truth,  and  Zeal  for  pra<5lical  Godiinefs,  as 
gava  a  fair  Profpe(5t  of  a  thorough  Reformation  \  from  all 
the  Corruptions  in  Do^rine,  Dijcipline  and  Worfhip,  which 
had  crept  into  the  Church :  But  the  Event  fell  far  fhort 
of  the  raifed  Hopes  of  Zion\  Friends.  In  many  Places 
it  was  carried  on  chiefly  by  the  civil  Magiflrate,  who 
v/cnt  no  farther  than  to  anfwer  their  political  Schemes,  and 
in  moft  it  was  too  much  3,formal,nominalThing,condu6}:cd 
by  the  JVifdom  of  this  JVorld.  So  that  it  foon  came  to  a 
Stand,  and  has  been  for  many  Years  paft  on  the  Decline, 
as  to  the  Principles  and  Praftice  o^  real  Religion,  and  this 
fad  Dcclenfion  is  growing  faft  on  the  prefent  Generation. 

Some  miay  be  ready  perhaps  by  this  Time,  to  put  to 
Me  the  Queftion  in  the  Text,  IVatchman,  what  of  the  Night? 
"Whereabouts  are  We  }  Is  it  Night,  or  Day  ?  What  are 
the  Signs  of  the  Times,  in  which  we  are  fallen  ?  What 
may  wc  look  for  ^  To  which  I  anfwer,  I  am  very  far 
from  pretending  to  a  Spirit  of  Prophefy,  or  any  fuch 
Infighc  into  the  prophetic  Writings,  as  precifely  to  fix 

the 


(  19  ) 
the  Dates  of  thofe  Times  and  Serjons^  about  which  learned 
and  pious  Men  have  lb  widely  differed  •,  I  may  venture 
however,'  to  affirm,  fome  Things  that  appear  evident  and 
plain,  and  modeftly  offer  my  Thoughts  about  others,  more 
doubtful  and   uncertain. 

It  is,  I  think,  very  evident,  that  tWt  Night  brought  on 
the  Church,  by  the  Delufions  and  Superftition  oi Mahomet ^ 
and  the  Pope,  ftill  continues.  Notwithftanding  the  fre- 
quent Appearances  of  the  Morning,  the  Darknefs  ftill  re- 
mains, and  at  prefcnt  feems  to  increafc.  Popery  did  in- 
deed receive  a  great  Wound  at  the  Reformation,  and  the 
Pope  confidered  as  a  temporal  Prince,  has,  as  to  Kxs,  fecular 
Power,  been  ever  fmce,  very  much  on  the  Decline,  very 
little  Regard  being  paid  him  to  what  formerly  was ;  but 
this  in  many,  arifes  more  from  Contempt  of  the  Go/pel, 
and  all  revealed  Religion,  than  a  Diflike  to  the  Corruptions- 
of  Popery,  or  Regard  to  the  Truth  ;  and  however,  he  be 
declined  in  fecular  Power,  the  Popijfj  Religion,  ftill  greatly 
prevails.  The  greateft  Part  oi  Chriflendom  zxt  profcffedly 
of  that  Communion,  and  acknowledge  Subjedlion  to  the 
Pope,  as  their  fpiritual  Head  -,  and  the  corrupt  Doftrines 
of  that  Church,  have  of  late  Years  very  much  prevailed 
in  Proteftant  Countries.  -- 

The  Turks,  who,"  when  they  defeated  the  Saracenyl 
adopted  fheir  Religion  and  Manners,  which  they  have  ever 
fmce  been  propagating,  by  their  victorious  Arms,  (the* 
they  have  been  fomething  weakened  by  their  late  Wars 
with  the  Germans)  are  yet  in  PoiTefTion  of  a  confiderable 
Part  of  4fja,  Europe,  and  Africa,  where  the  Chriftian  Re- 
ligion formerly  flourifhed.  The  Mahometans  have  ever 
been  profefTed  Enemies  to  Chriftianity,  and  endeavour  to 
root  it  out  wherever  they  come,  and  are  at  prefent,  the 
greateft  Objiacle  in  the  Way  of  fpreading  the  Gcfpel.  And 
how  great  a  Part  of  the  World  is  yet  involved  in  heathenifh 
Darknefs  and  Idolatry  ?  When  with  thefe  Things,  wecon- 
iider  thefad  Declenfions,  Corruptions  and  Divifions  of  the 
■  Reformed  Churches.,  we  are  conltrained  to  pronounce  it 
.^-•'  C  Night, 


(       20       ) 

Night.  The  Light  of  the  Gofpel  does  Indeed  Ihine,  but  'tis 
like  twinkling  Stars  in  the  Midft  oi'  Darknefs,  and  Error. 
Should  it  now  be  enquired.  What  of  this  Nighi  ?  How 
far  is  it  advanced  ?  And  how  much  is  yet  to  come  ?  1 
anfwer,  it  appears  to  me,  that  wc  are  in  the  Clofe  of  this 
dark  Nighty  and  that  the  Morning  cometh.  Could'  we  de- 
termine when  this  Night  began,  it  would  be  ealy  to  fix  on 
the  Time  of  it's  End\  the  Duration  of  it  being  plainly 
pointed  out  in  prophetic  Writings.  The  Bcajt  to  whom 
the  Dragon  (the  Roman  Emperor)  gave  his  Seat^  Authority., 
and  Power .^  was  to  continue  (peaking  great  Things  and  Elaf- 
phemies,  42  Months^  Rev.  xiii.  2  and  5  -,  which  is  jufl 
equal  to  the  Time,  Times,  and  half  Time  •,  while  the  JVoman^ 
i.  e.  the  Church  is  drove  into  the  IVildernefs,  and  there  nou- 
rifhedy  Rev.  xii.  14.  'During  this  Period,  the  fi^itneJJ'es  are 
to  Prophejy  in  Sackchth,  or  the  faithful  Meffengers  of 
Christ,  are  to  Labour  under  Difcouragements  and  Op- 
pofition,  which  was  to  continue  1260  Days,  Rev.  xi.  3. 
Thefe  feveral  Numbers  in  prophetic  Stile,  taking  a  Day 
for  a  Tear,  make  the  fame  Period  1260  Years.  So  long 
the  perfecuting  Power  of  the  5^^  will  continue  -,  and  while 
it  does,  the  Church  will  be  in  a  wildernefs  State,  and  the 
faithful  Miniflers  of  Christ  will  Prophefy  in  Sackcloth, 
This  perfecuted,  opprefled,  benighted  State  of  the  Churchy 
will  be  fucceeded  by  thofe  glorious  Times,  when  Satan 
will  be  confined  to  the  hottomlefs  Pit,  that  he  may  no  longer 
deceive  the  Nations,  and  when  there  Jhall  be  nothing  to  offend 
in  all  God's  holy  Mount.  But  when  this  dark  State  of  the 
Church  fhall  End,  or  where  to  fix  it's  Beginning,  is  z 
Matter  of  Uncertainty,  as  it  feems  to  have  come  gradually 
on.  St.  Paul,  indeed  tell  us.  That  the  wicked  one^ 
whofe  coming  was  to  he  after  the  Workings  of  Satan,  with 
all  Power,  Signs,  and  lying  Wonders  fhould  be  revealed,  when 
J?e  that  then  let  or  hindered,  was  taken  out  of  the  Way.  By 
him,  that  Let,  the  ancient,  as  well  as  modern  Expofitors, 
underftand,  the  Roman  Emperor,  who,  as  long  as  he  held 
his  Seat  and  Power,  prevented  the  Pope  of  Rome  from  de- 
ceiving the  Nations,  with  his  lywg  Wonders,  •  The  ancient 

Ckrijiiam 


(      21       ) 

Chrijlians,  therefore  iifed  to  pray  for  the  Continuance  of 
the  Roman  Empire^  that  the  coming  oi  Antichriji  miglit  be 
delayed.     If  the  Downfal  of  the  Roman  Empire^  may  be 
reclvoned  from  Rome's,  being  fackcd,  and  taken  by  the  Ir- 
ruptions of  the  Northern  Nations,  when  almolt  the  whole 
Empire,  was  over  run  and  divided  among  them;  when  the 
ien  Horns,  or  Kingdoms  arofe,  and  gave  their  Power  and 
Strength  to  the  Beajl ;  ||  the  Deftrudion  ot  Antichrijl,  and 
the  End  of  this  Night  oi  PopiJJj  Darknefs,  is  near  at  Hand ; 
'when  hcjhall  he  dejtroyed,  by  the  Breath  tf/"  Christ's  Mouth, 
and  the  Brightnefs  of  his  Coming.     But,  tho'  this  Night  it 
evidently  far  fpent,  and  the  Day  draws  nigh,  yet  it  appears 
to  me  not  improbable,  that  the  darkeft  Part  of  the  Night 
yet  remains,  and  that  the  glorious  Times,  the  Church  will 
enjoy  in  the  latter  Day,  will  be  preceded  with  a  Seafon  of 
the  foreit  Calamity  and  Diftrefs.    It  is  the  Opinion  of  many- 
learned  Divines,  that  there  will  be  a  general  Slaughter  of 
the  JVitneJfes,  who  have  thro'  all  the  dark  Ages  oi  Popery^ 
born  a  faithful  Teftimony  to  the  Truth  and  Ways  of  Chriji„ 
a  little  before  the  fevejith  Angel  lo,unds  his  Trumpet,  for 
the  utter  Deftrudtion  of  Antichriji's  Kingdom,  juft  when' 
they  are  about  finifhing  their  Teftimony,  and  confequently 
that  this  Event  is  future.     But  as  fome  eminent  Divines^, 
and  One,  for  v/hofe  Judgment  I  have  the  higheft  Venera- 
tion, are  of  a  diiFercnt  Opinion,  and  think  It  is  already 
paft,  I  (hall  offer  what  I  have  to  fay  on  this  Head,  wit^i 
all  Humility,  and  much  Diffidence  of  my  own  Sentiment?^ 
about  fo  dark  an  Event :  The  Account  we  have  of  it  is. 
Rev.  xi.  7—13.  And  when  they  fh all  have  finiJJjed  their  Tef- 
timony, the  Beafl  that  afcends  out  of  the  hottomlefs  Pit,  fhall 
make  War  againfi  them,  and  fhall  overcome  them,  and  kill 
them  ;  and  their  dead  Bodies  Jh all  lie  in  the  Street  of  the  great 
City.,  -which  fpiritually  is  called  Sodom  and  Egypt,  where 
^Ijo  our  Lord  was   crucified.     And  they   of  the  People,   and 
Kindreds  and  Tongues,  and  Nations,  fhall  fee  their  dead  Bodies 
three  D^iys  and  an  Half:,  and  fhall  not  fuffer  their  dead  Bodies 

to 

H  Rev.  xvii.  iz,  13. 


(       22       ) 

to  he  pit  in  Graves. .  And  they  that  d-vjell  upon  the  Earthy 
/hall  rejoice  over  thefn^  and  make  merry,  and  Jhall  fend  Gifts 
one  to  another  •,  becaufe  theje  tzvo  Prophets  tormented  them 
that  dwelt  on  the  Earth.  And  after  three  Days  and  an  Halfy 
the  Spirit  of  Lifejrom  God  entered,  into  them  :  And  they  flood 
upon  their  Feet,  and  great  Fear  fell  upon  them,  which  faw 
them.  And  they  heard  a  great  Voice  from  hieaven,  faying 
unto  them,  "  Come  up  hither''':  And  they  afcended  up  to  Hea- 
ven in  a  .Cloud,  and  their  Enemies  lehcld  them. 

The  Sum  of  which  PaflUige  feems  to  be  this,  viz.  That 
when  thefe  faithful  Witneffes  who  have  fo  long  prophefied 
in  Sackcloth,  are  about  concluding  their  Teflimony,  there 
will  be    a  fevere   Perfecution   railed  by  the  antichriflian 
Party  j  whereby  all  the  faithful  Minifters  of  the  Gofpei, 
will  appear  to  be  filenced  or  flain,  and  that  in  the   mofl: 
public,  open,  and  ignominious  Manner,  fo  that  their  Enemies 
fhall  triumph  as  tho'  the  Day  were  their  own  ;  but  this 
will  continue  only  for  a  fhort  Time,    three  Days  and  art 
Half;  which,  if  it  does  not  mean  three  Tears  and  an  Half^ 
taking  according  to  prophetic  Stile,  a  Day  for  a  Tear;  yet  it 
doubtlefs  means,  that  this  Time  of  their  Suffering  will  be 
but  fhort,  compared  to  the  Time  of  their  prophefyijig  in 
Sackcloth;  it  will  be  but  as  a  Day   to  a  Year,  as  that  is  a 
^ime,  'Times  and  half  a  Time,  1260  Tears.     After  this  they 
Ihall  not  only  be  reilored  to  their  former  Liberty,  but 
exalted  to  fuch  a  State  of  Dignity  and  Security,  as  they  never 
before  enjoyed,  and  that  in  the  Prefencc,  and  to  the  Con- 
fufion   of  their  Enemies  ;  and   the  Reafons  which  have 
made  it  appear  to  me  not  improbable  that  the  Church  has 
this  diftrelling  Scene  yet  to  pals  thro',  are  fuch  as  thefe  : 
ifi.  It  is  to  be  at  the  Conclufion  of  their  prophefying 
in  Sackcloth,  when  they  have  juft   finilhed   their  Tefti- 
mony.     JVhen  they  pall  havefinifloed  their  Teftimony.     Thus 
we  tranflatc  it,  which   indeed   feems   the   moft  natural, 
genuine    Conftruflion  of  hotan  telefnji,   cum    perfecerinty 
when  they  have  about  compleated  or  finifhed  off  their  Tefti- 
mony,  as  the  original   Word  properly  fignifies ;    at  the 
Clofe  of  1260  Days,  when  the  Period  oiAntichrifl's  Reign 
-     -  "  "  wiU 


(       23       ) 

tvill  be  jiift  ?.t  an  End.  But,  as  yet,  this  Period  evidently 
continues,  the  faithful  Minifters  of  Chrift  may,  on  many 
Accounts,  be  faid,  itill  to  propbefy  in  Sackcloth^  as  the 
Mahometan  and  Antichrifitan  Darknefs  yet  remains,  and 
they  are  carrying  on  their  Work  under  great  Difcourage- 
ments. 

2^,  History  affords  no  pad  Events  to  which  the 
Jlaying  and  Refurre^ion  of  the  Witneffcs,  can  well  be  ap- 
plied. Some  learned  Men  have,  I  know,  endeavoured. 
to  find  the  Accomplifhment  of  it,  in  fundry  Perfecutions^ 
bro't  on  the  faithful  Witneffes  for  the  Truth,  none  of 
which  feem  fully  to  anfwer  the  prophetic  Defcription  given 
of  that  Event.  The  Waldenfes  (Followers  oi  Peter  Waldo, 
a  Merchant  of  Lyons,  in  France)  A.D.  1160,  wereper- 
fecuted  Vv'ith  great  Severity  :  'Tis  computed,  that  not  lefs 
than  80,000  fealed  their  Teflimony  to  the  Truths  of  Gcd^ 
■with  their  Blood.  Above  a  Million  of  the  Alhigenfes  (fo 
called  from  their  native  Country  in  Languedoc)  fell  a  Sa- 
crifice in  the  fame  glorious  Caufe  ;  but  thefe  were  of  too 
early  a  Date  to  anfwer  the  Defcription  ;  of  too  long  Con- 
tinuance, and  confined  to  a  particular  Country  -,  whereas 
the  Jlaying  of  the  Witnefj'es  will  be  a  general  Thing  ;  and 
it  is  worthy  of  Remark,  that  this  was  in  a  Country  where 
the  Witneffes  have,  almofl  ever  fince,  prophefied  in  5'^fi'- 
cloth,  as  all  acquainted  with  the  Hiflory  of  France,  well 
know.  If  they  were  flain  in  that  Place,  it  is  hard  to  fay, 
when  they  rofe,  or  were  exalted.  Much  lefs  can  we  find  this 
Event  accomplifhed,  in  the  fhort  Perfecutions  by  ^een 
Mary,  in  England,  or  under  the  Duke  of  Savoy,  in  Pied- 
mont, which  were  confined  to  fo  fmall  a  Part  of  the 
Church,  however  exaftly  they  may  feem  to  anfwer  as  to 
Duration.  Many  fevere Perfecutions  have  been  carried  on 
by  the  Papijls,  againft  the  Protejiants,  in  Hungary,  Bohemia, 
many  Parts  of  Germany,  and  repeatedly  in  France ;  but 
all  thefe  were  only  p?Lni2L\  flaying  of  thelVitneffes.  They 
were  never  fo  univerfally  cut  off,  as  the  Prophefy  feems 
to  reprefent. 

3^, 


(       24      ) 

3^,  It  would  bfe  difficult  to  ihow,  that  there  ever  has 
been  that  ReJtirreUion^  and  glorious  E>cdiation  of  the  Wit-  . 
nefles,  which  is  to  follow  immediately  after  their  lying  dead 
three  Days  and  an  Half.  What  like  this  has  happened  upon 
any  of  the  Perferutions  that  have  yet  been  on  the  protef- 
tant  Churches  ?  They  arc  not  only  to  be  rellored  to  Life^ 
but  to  afcendupinto  Heaven.,  i.  e.  to  be  exalted  to  an  higher 
State  of  Dignity  and  Power,  than  they  have  ever  yet  en- 
joyed-, and  this  is  to  be  in  a  public,  open  Manner,  in 
the  Prefence,  and  to  the  Confufion  of  theirEnemies.  They 
are  to  put  off  their  Sackcloth^  and  put  it  on  no  more.  The 
Reproach  of  their  former  fuf!^ring  State,  will  be  wiped 
away  :  But  the  faithful  WitnefTes  of  Chrifl  don't  feem 
ever  yet  to  have  enjoyed  any  fuch  State  of  Honour,  Fcwer^ 
Influence  and  Security,  as  is  here  reprefented.  Something 
indeed,  like  this,  feemed  to  have  happened  at  the  Refor- 
mation, when  many  of  the  firft  Reformers  were  protected 
and  encouraged  in  their  Work,  againft  the  Attempts  of 
their  Popifh  Adverfaries  -,  but  when  we  confider  the  Op- 
pofition  they  met  with,  the  frequent  Perfecutions  in  many 
Parts  of  the  Proteflatit  Countries,  the  great  Difcouragements 
one  Way  or  another,  under  which  the  faithful  WitnefTes 
of  Chrift  have  laboured  -,  we  cannot  but  conclude,  that 
the  Time  of  their  f>rophefying  in  Sackcloth  yet  cojitinues. 

^th,  Tu^fecond  Woe,  does  not  appear  yet  to  have  pafTed 
away,  nor  any  fuch  Deflru6tion  and  Confternation  to  be 
brought  on  the  Seat  of  the  Beaft,  as  is  to  be  at  the  fame 
Time  with  the  Slaughter  and  Refurredion  of  the  JVitneJes, 

If  the  J econd  Woe,  or  Plague  of  the  Sixth  Trumpet,  was 
brought  on  the  Church,  by  the  pouring  out  of  the  flftb 
Vial,  when  a  Way  was  prefared  for  the  Kings  of  the  Eafl ; 
or,  the  Turks  fuffered  to  over-run  a  confiderable  Part  of 
Europe  -,  or,  if  it  be  referred  to  the  Deftrudion  and  Dark- 
nefs  brought  on  many  Parts  of  Chriflendom,  by  the  Sara- 
cens ;  I  fav,  to  which  foever  >of  thefe  Events  it  is  referred, 
'tis  evident,  this  Woe  brought  by  tktMahometan  Impoflun, 
is  not  yet  pafTed  away,  great  Part  of  the  World  flill  groan- 
ine  under  it ;  and  it  is  probable,  this  Woe  is  to  end  with 

the 


(       25       ) 

the  total  Deftru6lion  and  Abolition  of  the  I'urhjh  Empirt. 
Neither  does  there  appear  to  have  been  any  fuch  Dejlru5iiett 
and  Revolution  in  the  Antichrijlian  Dominions,  as  is  repre- 
fented  by  the  great  Earthquake  -,  the  Deftru6lion  of  the 
Tenth  Part  of  theCit)\  and  Jlaughter  of  7000  Men  of  Name  j 
efpecially  the  Time  never  has  yet  been,  when  the  Refc 
were  affrighted^  and  gave  Glory  to  God.  They  have  been 
grieved,  vexed  and  tormented,  at  the  Progrefs  of  the 
Reformation^  the  Liberty  granted  to  the  faithful  WitnefTes  j 
but  fo  far  have  they  been  from  repenting^  and  giving  Glory 
to  God^  that,  on  the  Contrary,  they  have  been  continually 
venting  their  Spite  and  Malice  againft  the  Reformed 
Churches^  and  labouring,  by  all  their  hellirti  Arts,  and 
popiJbR^ige^  to  ruin  and  deftroy  them. 

^th.  It  has  been  God's  ufual  Metho4  to  prepare  his 
Church  and  People  for  extraordinary  Favours,  by  extraor- 
dinary Trials,  and  in  the  prefent  corrupt  State  of  Things, 
it  feems  highly  proper  that  it  Ihould  be  fo. 

The  Affairs  of  Jacob' ^  Family,  are  in  the  moft  diftrefled 
Situation,  before  he  hears  that  Jofeph  was  yet  alive,  and 
that  by  him  a  Door  was  open  for  their  Reliet.     The  Chil- 
dren of  Ifrael  were  reduced  to  the  laft  Extremity,  in  their 
Egyptian  Bondage,  jult  before  their  remarkable  Deliverance. 
When  was  David  in  a  greater  Strait  than  at  the  Burning  of 
Ziklag,  a  little  before  he  was  exalted  to  the  Throne  of  Ifrael^ 
The  Perfecution  of  the  Church  under  tht  Emperors  of  Rome, 
was  by  far  the  mofl  extreme  and  dangerous  under  Diocleftan, 
when  her  Deliverance  drew  nigh,  and  fhe  was  ready  to  be 
exalted  under  Conjiantine.     The  Experience  of  many  Chrif- 
tians  can  teflify,  that  thofe  Seafons  in  which  they  have 
been  moft  highly  favoured,  with  fpecial  Communications 
of  Light  and  Love,  have  been  preceded  by  remarkable 
Darknefs  and  Perplexity.     That  he  fliould  therefore  pre- 
pare his  Church,  for  thofe  glorious  Things  fpoken  of  it  in 
the  latter  Days,  by  fome  extraordinaryTrials,  is  no  improba- 
ble Suppofition.    This  Obfervation  will  be  much  ftrength- 
ened,  by  confidering  the  prefent  degenerate  State  of  the 
pTQteJiant  Churches,  which  is  fuch,  that  it  can  hardly  be  ex- 

pe^^ed 


(       26      ) 

pected  God  (hould  pafs  by,  without  fome  fpecial  Tokens  of 
his  Difpleafure. 

And  if  the  Slaying  of  the  IVitneJj'es  is  not  yet  pad,  it  is 
probable  it  may  be  near  at  Hand.  But  however  it  may 
be  as  to  that  particular  Event,  -f-  about  which  I  would  be 
far  from  making  any  pofitivc  Conclufions,  many  Things 
may  make  us  expeft  that  difficult  and  trying  Times  are 
coming  on  the  Church  and  the  World.  Ihe  dark  Cloud 
that  gathers  fo  faft  over  our  Nation  and  Land,  feems  to 
forebode  Difhrefs  and  Calamity,  to  the  proteftant  Churches 
in  general.  The  Britijlj  Nation  has  been  for  a  long  Time 
the  great  Bulvoark  ot  the  Reformation,  and  fhould  it  be 
fubdued,  the  other  Protedant  Powers  in  Europe  could,  by 
no  Means,  be  a  Match  for  x.\\t\r  antichrifnan  Enemies,  when 
united  together  ;  and  a  Door  would  open  for  a  diftreiTing 
Scene  of  Perfecution,  throughout  all  the  reformed  Churches. 
It  gives  me  no  Pleafure  to  be  a  MefTengerof  evil  Tidings, 
nor  would  I  make  pofitive  Affertions  2S:>qw\.  future  Events  ; 
yet  1  muft  fay,  our  puhlick  Affairs  wear  a  dark  Afpe6l. 
The  Nation  we  are  engaged  v/ith  in  War,  is  numerous, 
powerful  and  politic.  Frayice  abounds  with  Men,  and  the 
King  commands  as  many  as  hepleafes  into  theTield  ;  on 
every  Occafion  fhows  himfeif  fuperior  to  our  Expecfations; 
and  his  being  anabfolute  Monarch  gives  great  Advantage 
in  Point  of  Secrecy  and  Difpatch. 

Our  old  Friend  and  Ally,  the  S^iiecn  of  Hungary,  has 
joined  the  King  of  France,  3.nd  fo  far  as  we  can  judge  from 
her  Condud,    defigns   to  forfake   us,  whatever  plaufible 

Pretences, 


t  The  Reafons  for  fuppofing  this  Event  already  pall,  are  fet  in  a 
ftrong,  and  clear  Light,  in  that  excellent  Treatife,  J/i  hmnbk  At- 
temp  to  promote  extraordinary  Frayer  for  the  Ret'lval  of  Religion  ; 
which  I  had  not  by  me  when  I  wrote  this  Difcourfe,  but  on  a  Review 
cf  it  fince,  find  that  iuch  a  Seafon  of  Trials,  as  I  fuppofe  the  prefent 
degenerate  State  of  the  Church  requires,  may  be  expefled  on  the 
Aoihor's  Scheme  ihat  thi;  Witncffes  are  flain  ;  for  he  fays,  Page  125, 
*'  'Tistrue  there  is  abundant  Evidence  in  Scnpture,  that  there  is  yet 
.  •*  remaining  a  mighty  Conflid  between  the  Church  and  her  Enemies, 
"  the  moft  violent  Struggle  o^  Satan  and  his  Adherents,  inOppofition 
*'  to  true  Religion,  &c.  -'^nd  forac  Farts  of  ihe  Chuich  may  fufter 
"  hard  Things  in  this  Confiift. 


c  ti  ) 

Pretences,  Ihe   may  make  to  the  Contrary.     No  other- 
Conftrudion  can  be  put  on  her  joining  our  fworn  Enemy^  - 
when  at  open  War  with  us,  in  the  Manner  (he  has  done  ; 
No  Power  in  Europe^   under  greater  Obligations  to  the 
Britijh  Nation;  almoft  all  the  Wars  we  have  been. engaged* 
in,  fince  the  Acceffion  of  King  IVilliam,  have  been  under-i" 
taken  in  Favour  of  the  Ila^e  of  Aujiria.     Louijbourgh, 
thit  important  Fortrefs,   was   given  up,  that   the  Places 
the  King  of  France  had  taken  from  her  in  Flanders,  might 
be  reftored  •,  yet  now  flie  has  forfaken   us   at   a  critical 
Juncture  •,    and  what  may   we  then   expeft  from  other 
PopiJIj  Powers.     Spain  appears  waiting  for  nothing  but  a 
favourable   Opportunity  of  declaring  againft  us.     The 
King  of  Poland,  (Eleftor  of  Saxony)  by  a  ftrange  Turn  of 
Politics,  fcems  inclined  to  efpoufe  the  Intcreft  of  France. 
The  Connexions  of  the  King  of  the  two  Sicilies  are  fuch, 
that  he  will  readilyjoin  their  Confederacy  :  And  perhaps 
the  King  of  Sardinia,  will  be  obliged  to  join  or  f^and  neuter, 
in  his  own  Defence.  When  to  this,  we  add  the  Coldnefs,to 
fay  no  worfe,  with  which  we  are  treated  by  fome  of  our 
Protejlant  Allies  -,  it  gives  the  Situation  of  our  publick  Af- 
fairs a  dangerous  afid  threatnihg  Afpedl:.     And  if  we  caft 
our  Eyes  on  the  Britijh  Colonies  m  America,  Things  look 
ftill  darker.     All  our  Schemes  hitherto  prove  unfuccefsful  j 
our  Enemies,   fmall  and  contemptible  as  their  Numbers 
appeared  to  us,  every  where  get  the  Advantage.  BraddocFs 
mournful  Defeat  lafl  Year,  has  been  attended  with  a  Train 
of  deftrudtiye  Cortfequenc^s.     'Tis  not  eafy  to  conceive, 
what  wc  have  fuffered  from  the  barbarous  Natives,  under 
the  Influence,  and  by  the  Afliftance  of  the  French  -,  fcarce 
a  Paper  from  the  Southward  but  brings  Accounts  of  new 
Depredahons  and  Murders.     What  ruinous  Confequences 
may  we  cxpe6l  from  the  LofsofOJwego  ?  What  an  Ad- 
vantage is  hereby  put  into  the  Enemy's  Hand  ;  the  Lake 
wholly  at  their  Command,  where  w-e  have  expended  fuch 
Sums.     0\.\v  Shipping,' Artillery,  with  the .  other  Warlike 
Stores  and  Provijions,  which  we  had  conveyed  there  with 
great  Coft  and  Labour  •,  all  fallen  Into  the  Hands  of  the 

D  Enemy 


(:  2^  ) 

Eneiny,  id.  be  employdd  againft  us.  All  ihcfne  Counirf. 
adjacent,  loft  -,  and  the  tew  Indians  that  have  hitherto  con-^ 
tinued  in  our  FriendJhip^-^iW  probably  forfake  us  ;  and  thofe 
that  have  remained  neuter,  join  in  with  the  Enemy  ;  for 
now  feems  verified  the  Obfervation  they  made  in  a  late 
Treaty  at  Albany^  '*  The  French  a6l  like  Men^  build  Forts 
a;id  defend  tliem  ;  but  the  Englijh  aft  like  IVomen. 

Dark  Tidings  of  late,  likejc-^'s  Meffengers,  come  in 
thick  Succefllon,  one  after  another.  In  the  Midft  of  our 
Lamentations  for  the  fad  Fate  o^  Ofwego,  comes  the  melan- 
cholly  Ngws^M  Ptfrl-Mabon's  being  taken  :  The  Lofs  of  a 
Jformfs  fo  important,  of  fuch  Confequence  to  the  Britijh 
"Irade^  in  the  Mediterraman,  and  which  gives  fo  much 
Advantage  to  the  Enemy,  muft  be  exceeding  great, 
highly  aggravated  by  the  difgraceful  Circumftances  which 
attended  it ;  the  Ferment  into  which  it  has  thrown  the 
Nation,  and  the  lafting  Difhonour  done  to  the  jBr/Vi/^ 
Flag,  I  fhall  leave  it  to  the  Politicians  of  the  Day,  to  point 
out  the  Caufe  of  thofe  fore  Calamities,  and  make  but  one 
Remark,  which  muft  be  obvious  to  all  ferious  and  think- 
ing Perfons. 

,  That  our  Misfortunes  have  come  upionus,.  iri  fuch  a 
Mariner,  as  plainly  to  point  out  the  Hand  of  Qpd  therein  ■„ 
and  ftiows  us,  that  our  Dependance  on  our  o^nlVifdom 
and  Strength^  while  by  our  Sins,  we  engage  Heaven  againft 

■Hs,  is  as  vain  as  it  is  fmful. We  have  been  greatly  dif- 

pofed  to  boaft  ofour  fuperior  Strength  by  5^*3,  an^  g'orjf 
in  our  Fleets^  as  a  fure  Refuge  in  a  Tii;iie,  of  Dangen;  but 
even  //^^yhave  failed  usy  and  at  a  5^^/^;/,' when;  we  mol^ 
needed  their  Help,  and  feemed  to  have,  the  higheft.Rsal^:} 
of  Dependance  upon  them.  This  might  ferve  to  cure  us 
of  our  Infidelity  and  vain  Confidence^  and  tea,ch  us  our 
^Tiiixt  Dependance  on  God^  a^d  hgw  great  our  ganger  is, 
while  his  HmdS\%  fo  evidently  ftretched  forth  againft-us. 
Out-  Expedition  to  few^-Pi'/^/i  wi},l.pt-<?bably,  again,  like 
the  Reft  of  our  Schemes,  prove  abortive.  Thefe  Things> 
together  with  our  divided  Counfels,  and  dilatory  Methods  of 
proceeding,' make. the  Situati^i^QJ^  public,; Affairs,  lool^ 

,  "  exceedin"^ 


(    29   ; 

exceeding  dangerous,  and  may  well  alarm  our  Fe^rs,  a 

to  what  is  coming  on  our  Nation,  and  Country. And  if 

wc  confider  the  prelent  State  of  tlie  Protejlant  Churches^ 
will  it  not  tend  to  increafe  our  dark  Apprehenfions  on  this 
Head.  What  mournful  Declenfions,  as  to  Do^lrine,  Bif- 
cipline,  and  p-a£lical  GodUnefs !  God  has  evidently  with- 
drawn his  Spirit  -j-^-a  fad  Decay,  as  to  vital  Piety.^  is  almoft 

every  where  lamentably  vifible  ; A  Midnight  Security 

feems  to  have  fallen  on  the  Churches-, Both  Minifters 

and  iPeople,  Saints  and  Sinners,  Jlumler  zndijleep.     Iniquity 

abounds  ;  the  Love  of  many  waxes  cold. Lukewarmne'ls 

and  Indifference,  in  fpiritual  and  divine  Things  -,  Want, 
of  Affedion  to  God  and  Chrifi,  to  the  Truths  and  Ordinances 
oftheGofpel,  are  growing  fall  on  the  Profeflbrs  of  this 
^ge.     The  Things  that  remain  are  jujl  ready  to  die^  and  our 
Works  are  not  found  perfe^i  before  God.—T\\t  Gofpel,  and 
all  its  Glories,  grow  more  and  more  contemptible  in  the 
Eyes  of  Sinners^  and  lefs  precious  in  the  Eyes  ot  Sain^s.--- 
The  Lord's-Day,  public  Worfhip,  and  Ordinances  of  his 
Houfe,  difregarded  and  flighted  j- --The  Minifters  of  the 
Gofpel  treated  with  Contempt  by  many,  with  too  much 
Negle6l  and  Difregard  by  all  -,  their  Perfons  and  Families 
poorly  kipported,  their  CharaEler  and  Office  little  reveren- 
ced, and  the  important  Meffages  they  bring,  undervalued 
and  rejected.     How  widely  different  are  Things  in  this 
Refped,  from  what  they  were  in  the  Memorv  of  many 
now  alive  !   How  little  of  that  Reverence  and  Ffleem  for 
tht  minijlerial Character,  which  was  lo  remarkable, among 
our  Fore-fathers,  is  to  be  feen  in  our  Day  ;  and  thefe  Things 
are  waxing  worfe  and  worfe.     Whether  this  arifes  from 
Declenfions  among  Miniflers  or  People.^  or  both,  it  muft 
be  efteemed  a  dark  Symptom  on  the  Church.     Time  would 
fail  me,  to  fpeak  of  the  mournful  Growth  ot  Infidelity, 
Profancnefs,  and  all  kind  of  abominable  Immoralities  : 
And  when  we  confider  thefe  Thingsy  have  we  not  Reafon 
to  fear,  that  God  will  purify  his  Churches  in  the  Fiirnofc, 
that  they  may  come  forth  as  Gold  tried  and  refined  ?  Can 
we  exped,  that  fo  much  Brofs  and  CorruptioUy  as  is  now 

found 


(     30     ) 
found  among  ns,  will  be  purged  off  any  other  Way  ?  The 
PopiJ/j  Fovjcrs  may  be  furifered  to  unite  their  Strength,  ro 
prevail,   and  carry  all  before  them  for   a  Seajon  \  to  Jlay^ 
o\'  fdence  the  faithful  IVitnejfes  of  Chrift ;  to  rejoice^  and 
fend'Gifts^  as  if  the  Day  was  their  own,  and  to  imagine 
they  have  nothing  to  fear  from  them,  who  ufed  to  torment 
than  Night  and  Day.     This,  as  it  will  be  the  laft  Effort 
of  the  Mim  of  Sirr^  and  his  Adherents,  may,  probably, 
be  one  of  the  mod  defperate  Attacks,  he  has  ever  made  on 
xht  Reformed  Churches.     Satan  will  feem  to  be  loofed  from 
the  bottsmlefs  Pit^  and  will  come  in  great  Wrath,  becaufe 
his  Time  is  fliort.     But,  blefTed  be  God,  tho'  this  will  be 
a  Time  of  great  Darknefs  and  Dijirefs,  yet  it  will  foon  be 
over.     The  triumphing  of  the  Enemies  of  Chrift,  will  be 
fhort.     When  they  think  themfelves  mod  fecure,  and  that 
there  are  none  to  oppofc  their  Defigns,  Judden  DeJlru5lion 
Jhall  come  upon  them,  as  on  a  Woman  in  Travil,  and  they 
' Jhall  not  efcape.     When  the  Whore  of  Babylon,  or  myflical 
"Rofiie,  fhall  fay,  IJit  as  a  ^een,  am  no  Widow,  and  Jhall 
fee  no  Sorrow  ',  then  her  Doom  draws  nigh  ;  her  Plagues 
fhall  come  in  one  Day  •,  Death,  Mourning  and  Famine  •,  and 
fhefhall  he  utterly  burnt  with  Fire  ■\.    Happy  fhall  they  then 
'  be,  who  have  come  out  from  her,  and  are  not  Partakers  of 
her  Sin,  that  they  may  not  receive  of  her  Plagues.     The  De- 
ftruftion  o^  Antichriji,  will  not  be  all  at  once;  yet  on  the 
Refurre5lion  and  Exaltation  of  the  Witnelfes,  he  fliall   re- 
ceive d.  deadly  Wound,  of  which  he  fhall  never  be  healed, 
*-  but  confume  away  by  the  Breath  of  Chrifs  Mouth,  and 
'Brightnefs  of  his  Coming.     Such  fudden   and  awful  Judg- 
ments will  then  be  brought  upon  ^/w,  as  fhall  affrighten 
the  Refi  of  the  World,  and  caufe  them  to  give  Glory  to 
God.     This,  with  the  pafTing  away  of  the  fecond  Woe,  in 
the  Overthrow  of  the  Turkijh  Fjnpire,  will  open  a  Door  for 
that  glorious  Spread  of  the  Gofpel   promifed  in  the  latter 
'  J)ays.     The  third  Woe,  under  the  founding  of  the  feventh 
Angel,  which  cometh  quickly,  will  iffue  in  the  final  and 

complete 

t  Rev.  xviii.  7,  8. 


(     3'     ) 
tomplete  Bejiru^fien  of  Antichriji^  and  Confufton  of  all  the 
implacable  Enemies  of  the  Church.     Then  fhall  be  heard 
great  Voices  in  Heaven,  and  the  joyful  Sound  will  fpread 
far  and  wide  on  the  Earth,  faying.  The  Kingdoms  of  this 
World  are  become  the  Kingdoms  of  our  Lord,  aijd  his  Chriji, 
and  he  fhall  reign  for  ever  ayid  everf.     Then,  My  Brethren^ 
the'  we  may  be  entering  on  the  darke/l,  and  moft  gloomy 
Part  of  the  Nighty  which  has  continued  fo  long,  we  may 
lift  up  our  Heads  with  Joy,  our  Salvation  draws  near. 
The  Night  is  far  fpent,  and  the  Day   is   at  Hand.     The 
Morning  cometh,  and  will  ufher  in  a  glorious  Day^  when 
the  Sun  of  Righteoufnefs  fjjall  arije,  and   difpel  the   dark 
Clouds  which  now  hang  over  his  Church,  become  a  Light 
to  the  Gentiles,  and  a  Glory  to  God's  People  Ifrael  -,  whtn  the 
Light  of  the  Moon  fhall  be  as  the  Light  of  the  Sun,  and  the 
Light  of  the  Sun  fevenfold  as  the  Light  of  f even  Days  §.  This 
Day  of  the  Churches  Profperity,    is  to  continue  for  a 
fhoufand Tears ',i6m&  fuppofe,  prophetically  taken, 360,000 
Years,  that  Chrift  may  have  a  longer  Reign,  and  greater 
Number  of  Subje6ls,  than  the  Prince  of  Darknefs  has  had  ; 
but  this  may  be  accomplifhed  in  the  Space  of  rooo  Years, 
(literally  takenj  of  fuch  Peace  and  Profperity  as  the  Church 
will  then  enjoy,  when  the  Increafe  of  Mankind  will  be  lo 
much  greater,  and  their  DeJlru5lion  fo   much  lefs   than  at 
other  Times  1].    Some  fuppofe  Chrift  will  reign  perfonally 
here  on  Earth,  during  thele   1000  Years,  and   that  his 
bodily  Prefence  will  be  the  Glory  of  his  Church  ;  that  the 
Saints,  or,    at  leaft,  the  Martyrs,  will  be  raifed  from  the 
Dead,  and  reign  with  him.    But  fuch  perplexing  Queilions 
and  Difficulties,  are  ftarted  on  this  Head,  as  I  have  never 
yet  feen  anfwered  ;  and  fince  it  is  reprelented  as  a  greater 
Blcfling  to  the  Church,  to  have  Chrift  ijiterceding  in  Hea- 
ven, and  the  Prefence  of  his  Spirit  on  Earth ;  I  fee  no 
Reafon,  either  to  defire  or  exped:  it.     'Tis  expedient  (fays 
CnriftJ)  That  1  go  away  ;  for,  unlefs  I  go,  the  Comforter 

will 


t  Rhv.  xi.   14,  i;.     §  IsAi.  XXX.  26. 
II  See  this  particularly  illuHrated  in  the  Treatife  above  mcmioncd, 
Page  47  and  48.         %  John  xvi.  7. 


('    32     ) 

'Wilt  not*  Corns  unto  you.  Without  pronounci ng  any  Tiling 
decifively,  about  the  exa^  Circtimjlances  of  thefe  glorioui 
TimeSy  and  the  Manner  in  which  th^y  will  be  brought  on, 
I  will  only  fay,  That  it  feems  evident  by  the  prophetic 
Defcription  given  of  thofe  Times,  that  their  Glory  will  - 
confift  in  the  univerfal  Promotion  of  true  Chrijiianity  and 
real  Religion,  in  the  Gofpel's  having  its  genuine  Effect  on 
the  Hearts  and  Lives  of  Men  •,  fuch  as  were  before  hateful^ 
and  hating  one  another,  will  then  have  Hearts  glowing 
with  Love  to  God,  and  one  another;  fuch  as  were  before 
the  Plagues  and  Pcfts  of  Society,  will  then  become  its 
Ornament,  Delight  and  Defence  ;  fuch  as  were  before 
fierce  and  favage,  malicious  and  revengeful,  barbarous 
and  cruel,  will  then  become  kind  and  gentle,  courteous 
and  forgiving,  meek  and  humble.  The  Lyon  will  be 
turned  into  the  Lamb  -,  and  there  Jhall  be  Nothing  to  offend 
in  God's  holy  Mount.  When  fupreme  Love  to  God,  and 
undilTembled  Affedlion  to  one  another,  reign,  it  will  pro- 
duce univerfal  Harmony  and  Peace.  Wars  and  Conten- 
tions, angry  Jars  and  Difputes,  will  ceafe  ;  the  Lamb  Jh^ It 
lie  down  with  the  Wolf,  and  the  Nations  of  the  Earth  zvill 
learn  War  no  more.  Such  a  glorious  Change,  in  fuch  a 
corrupt  apoftate  World,  can  be  brought  about  by  Nothing 
lliort  of  a  plentiful,  out -pouring  of  the  Spirit  of  all  Grace, 
who  has  immediate  Accefs  to  the  Hearts  of  the  Children 
of  Men,  by  his  enlightning,  purifying,  and  all-conque- 
ring Influences.  That  the  Change  muft  begin  here  ;  that 
without  this,  all  Means  muft  prove  ineffeftual  ;  and  that 
this  is  fufficient  to  effe6l  it,  might  be  eafily  proved.  Such 
abundant  Effufion  of  the  divine  Spirit,  will  open  an  effculual 
Door  for  the  Gofpel,  to  have  free  Courfe  and  be  glorified, 
which  no  Man  fhall  be  able  to  fliut.  A  preached  Gofpel 
will  be  attended  with  fuch  Life  and  Power,  as  will  fubdue 
and  foften  the  hardeli  Heart ;  it  will  fhine  with  fuch  Light 
and  Glory,  as  that  the  Remainder  of  Pagan,  Popifh  and 
Mahometan  Darknefs,  will  flee  before  it,  as  the  Shadows 
of  the  Night  before  the  rif^ng  Sun.  The  Inhabitants  of 
the  Earth  fiiall  be  filled  with  the  fpiritual  Knowledge  of 

God 


i  33  ) 
God  and  Chrift,  as  the  Waters  cover  the  Sea  J  j  Converfi- 
ons  will  be  greatly  multiplied  •,  Sinners  will  flock  toChrift, 
as  Clouds,  and  as  Doves  to  their  Windows  >— -it  will  leem  as 
if  Nations  were  born  in  a  T)ay  :  Then  will  God  remember 
Mercy  for  his  ancient  People,  the  Jews.  They  fhall  be 
brought  in  with  the  Fullnefs  of  the  Gentile  JVorldy  which 
will  he  Life  from  the  Dead  *.  This  is  exprefsly  promifed  I|, 
The  Children  of  Ifrael  Jhall  abide  tnany  Days  without  a  Kingy 
and  a  Prince,  without  a  Sacrifice,  Image,  Ephod,  &c.  After- 
wards Jhall  they  return,  and  feek  the  Lord  their  God,  and 
David,  their  king.  Then  may  it  be  faid  to  the  Church, 
Arife  ;  fhine  forth  -,  for  thy  Light  is  come,  and  the  Glory  of 
the  Lord  -is  rijen  upon  thee  -,  his  Glory  fJjall  he  feen  upon  thee, 
and  the  Gentiles  fhall  come  to  thy  Light,  and  Kings  to  the 
Brightnefs  of  thy  Rifing  §. 

PRINCES  and  Potentates,  will,  I  imagine,  par- 
take of  this  plentiful  Effufion  of  divine  Grace,  whereby 
Kings  fhall  be  made  nurfing  Fathers,  and  9lueens  nurfing 
Mothers  to  the  Church-\,  difpofed  to  caft  their  Crowns  at 
the  Feet  of  7^/«j,  and  employ  all  their  fuperior  Advan- 
tages for  the  Honour  of  his  Name,  and  Advancement  of 
his  C^ufe  ;  and  vvith  what  flriking  Beauty  a;d  Force  will 
Religion  then  fhine,  when  reconimended  by  fuch  diftin- 
gUiflied  Examples  !     '         -.''." 

Ministers  of  the  Gofpel,'  wiM  doubtlefs  have  a  double 
Portion  of  the  %V//,  when  it  is  fo  remarkably  poured 
forth.  They  will  then  be  like  the  Angel  fpoken  of  in 
Revelations,  who  flew  through  Heaven,  having  the  everlafiing 
(jofpel.  They  will  fly  on  the  Wings  of  Zeal  and  Love,  to 
publifh  the  Wonders  of  divine  Grace  to  a  lofl:  and  ruined 
World.  And  their  Meeknefs,  Humility  and  Wifdom, 
will  be  equal  to  their  Zeal.  How  different  in  that  Day, 
will  be  the  Preaching,  Converfation  and  Examples  of  Mini- 
fters,from  what  we  now  behold  ?  And  wh3.t  glorious  Effe^s 
may  be  expc6ted  from  theGofpel,  when  it  is  publifhed  by 
thofe  whole  Hearts  are  full  of  a  Senfe  of  its  Excellency, 

Truth 


tlfai.  xi.  9.         *  Rom.  xi.  15.         ||  Hofca  iii.  4.  5. 
§  Ifai  Ix,  1,  2,  3,        t  Ifai  Ix.  16. 


Truih  and  Lnporiance -,  and  when  this  J^Wj  forth  in  their 
Lives.  Alc.s  \  how  little  do  we  know  ol  this  in  the  prefent 
Day  ?  what  a  mournful  withdrawment  of  the  divine  Spirit ! 
our  Words  freeze  between  our  Lips  ;  the  divine  Art  of 
reaching  the  Hearty  and  alluring  Souls  to  Chrifl:  is  departed 
from  us.  Long  experienced  Unfuccefsfulnefs  damps  our 
Spirits  •,  we  fpeak  as  thofe  that  expeft  to  labour  in  vain,  and 
Jpend  cur  Strength  for  Nought, 

Christians,  in  general,  will  be  favoured  with  unufual 
Communications  of  divine  Grace,  and  Jkine  as  Lights  in 
the  World.  There  will  be  fomcthing  convincing  and  al- 
luring in  their  Examfle  :  That  mean,  low,  fordid  Temper, 
that  contentious,  jangHng,  quarrelfome  Spirit,  which  now 
appears  in  molt  Profejfors^  obfcures  the  Beauty  of  our 
holy  Religion  m  the  Eyes  of  Strangers,  and  is  one  of  the 
greateft  Objlacks  to  the  Spread  of  the  GofpeL  But  when 
true  Religion  comes  to  be  properly  exemplified  in  the  Lives 
of  ChriJlianSy  there  will  appear  fuch  a  Charm,  and  Excel- 
lency in  it,  as  will  ftrike  and  allure  the  Beholders,  and  have 
a  peculiar  Tendency  to  propagate  it  throughout  th^lVorld. 

Families  will  then,  'tis  probable,  be  as  remarkable 
for  htm^  Nurferies  of  Piety,  as  they  now  are  for  being' 
Scenes  of  Diforder,  Corruption,  and  l^ice  ;  when  Children 
■will  indeed  be  trained  up  for  God,  and  come  on  the  Stage 
of  Adion  with  Hearts  animated  with  Love  to  him,  and 
to  2i\\  Mankind,  and  glowing  Defires  of  being  diftinguifhed 
Bleflings  in  their  Day. 

PuBLicK  Schools,  and  Seminaries  of  Learning,  will 
probably  become  Seats  remarkable  for  Virtue,  and  true 
Religion:,  where  it  fhall  fliine  with  d^w'mt  Lujlre,  anddif- 
fufe  its  benign  Influence  far  and  wide  :  From  thofe  Foun- 
tains thus  purified,  will  ilTue  Streams  that  fhall  make^W 
the  City  of  our  God.  I  hint  at  thefe  Things,  as  probable 
Means ^hcxthy  the  glorious  Defigns  of  God's  Grace  will 
be  carried  on,  in  the  latter  Day,  that  with  our  fervent 
Prayer,  V7Q  may  unite  our  earneft  Endeavours  for  their 

-Accomplifliment. 

^  What 


(     35     ) 

"What  z  glorious  Change  will  {oon  be  produced,  when 
God  ihalj  yifit'  thefe  dark  Abodes,  with  iuch  plentiful 
EffufiooS  of  his, Spirit  I  What  a  new  Face  of  Things  muft 
then  appear  in  the  moral,  IVorld.  Beheld^  I  create  a  new 
Heaven^  and  a  new  Earth  s  be  ye  glad^  and  rejoice^  for  every 
in  what  I  create^  for  1  create  Jerufakm  a  rejoicings  and  -her 
People  a  Joy\  My  Heart  is  inlarged  on  this  delightful 
\Subjed:,  but  having  greatly  tranfgreffed  ray  Bounds,^  I 
niuft  conclude  with  a  very  brief  Addrefs,  to'  My  Reverend 
and  dear  Brethren^  in  the  Gofpel,  who  are  convened-on»-tlie 
prefent  Occafion.  :.  <::':^- 

ly?.  Let  uspvtp3.rt  for  dark  znd  diJireJJijtg'Tmes^  if  God 
Ihould  fee  fit  to  bring  them  on  the  Church  in  our  D^iy.  - 

Tho'  it  be  not  for  us  to  know  the  Titnes  and  Seafons 
which  God  has  referved  in  his  own  Power  -,  yet  when  he  is 
both  by  his  IVord  and  Providence^  giving  Intimations 
of  approaching  Judgments,  we  ought,  like  Noah^  to  be 
moved  with  Fear^  and  prepare  to  meet  them.  This  may 
efpecially  be  expected,  of  us,  who  are  appointed  asfVatch- 
metty  to  give  warning  to  others.  Tho'  we  can't  pretend 
to  penetrate  into  the  Council  of  Heaven^  as  to  future  Events, 
yet  he  that  runs,  may  read  the  prefent  threatning  AfpeSl  of 
divine  Provideiice  i.  the  loud  Calls  God  is  giving  to  the 
Worldy.  and  to  his  Churches,  to  prepare  to  meet  him  :  He 
fpeaks  once-,  yea,  twice-,  and  thatin  a  moft  folemn  and  mov- 
ingManner;  tho'  tew  regard  him.  The  C^«^  gathers  thick 
and  dark  upon  us  -,  our  Nation  and  Land,  filled  With  Sin 
againfl  the  holy  one  of  Ifrael ;  challenging  God  to  vindicate 
the  Honour  of  his  Majcfly  ^--engaged  in  War  with  an 
ambitious,  politic  and  warlike  Nation,  llrengthned  by  a  pow- 
erful Confederacy,— a  Nation  that  has  Jong  been  drunk 
with  the.  Blood  of  the  Saints  ;-— our  -Councils  and  divided 
Schemes,  turned  into  Foolifhnefs  ;  our  vain  Boafting,<;  and 
groLlndlefs  Expeftations,  repeatedly  difappointcd.  Have 
we  not  then  Reafon  to  tremble,  for  Fear  of  thofe  Things 
chat  are  coming  upon  us  ?  Should  our  Enemies,  enraged  as 
they  have,. been,  and  flufli'd  with  ViElory  as  they  now  are, 

E  -  be 

*    ISAI.    Iv.    17,    18. 


(     3^    J 
be  fiiffered  to  prevail,  and  put  in  Execution  theif  wicked 
Defigns,   to  fill  with  Defolation  and  IVoe^  with  the  direful 
EfFe6ls  of  popjp  Bigotry,   and  lawlefs  Tyranny,    this   once 
happy  Land,  which  has  fo  long  been  difl-jnguifhcd  with 
Peace  and  Plenty,  with  Gofpel  Light  and  Uberty  ;  what  a 
hmentable  Seem  would  it  open  !  and  what  can  wc  expeft, 
but  that  Judgment  will  begin  at  the  Houle  of  God.     The 
N^atchmen  will  doubtlefs  firfl:  be  attacked  •,— the  Shepherd 
finitten,  that  the  Sheep  may  befcattered.    What  are  we  better 
than  our  Fathers  ?  than  the  glorious  Train  of  Martyrs^ 
who  hnvefealed  their  Teftimony  with  their  Blood  )  and  why 
fhould  we  exped  to  die  quietly  in  our  Neds  ?    And  are 
we,  My  Brethren,  prepared  for  fuch  trying  Times  as  may 
foon  come  upon  us  ?  Is  Chrijl,  his  Truths,  and  Ways,  dearer 
to  us,  than  Qi\^xLives?  And  can  we  freely  facrifice  the  lattet 
in  Defence  of  the /or;!?;i?r  ?  Should  we  who  are  Z^^^frj  in 
Ghrift's  Army,  give  back,  and  cowardly  defert  the  glorious 
Gaufe  wherewith  we  areentrufted,  our  Guilt  and  Condem- 
nation would  be  exceeding  great.     This  would  be  to  cruci- 
fy the  Lord  afrefh,  and  put  htm  to  open  Shame,  and  for  fuch 
there  remains  no  more  Sacrifice  for  Sin,  but  a  certain  iGoking  for 
ef  Judgment,  2.^^  fiery  Indignation,     /w'   < 'aj^  ^  iui'.'  '^^ii  j 

We  may,  perhaps,  in  a  warm  Mood,  like  Peflr,  hy, 
Tho*  all  Men  forfake  thee,  yet  will  not  we.  But  have  we  that 
Self-denial,  Faith  and  Love,  that  would  carry  us  thro*  th^ 
fiery  Trial,  bear  us  up  under  all  the  Variety  of  Tortures, 
>vhich  the  Wit  and  Malice  of  our  Enemies  may;invent  ? 
It  muft  be  Lovey  Jironger  than  Death,  fuch  as  vtai^  Waters 
iannot  quench.  We  are  loudly  called  in  this  Day,  to  f  and 
with  our  Loins  girt,  and  Lamps  burning  -,  to  have  all  our 
Graces,  in  a  lively  vigorous  Exercife  •,  our  Evidences  for* 
Heaven  clear,  that  we  may  be  ready,  if  the  Lord  fhould 
come  as  a  Refiner'' s  Fire,  and  Fuller'' s  Soap,  to  purify  the  Sons 
of  Levif.  Let  us  continually  look  to  the  Author  arid  Fi- 
nifher  of  our  Faith,  and  be  animated  cheerfully  to /»^- 
"with  him  here,  under  the  glorious  Profped  that  we  fhall 
reign  with  him  for  ever.  ^d.  With 

'   <     I       I  I II  ■■  -III.    —  .- ,  .1 1  1 1 

t  Mai.  iii.  2,  3. 


(     37    ) 

2d.  With  wTiat  Pleafure  fliould  we  look  forward  to  tinfi 
joyful  Period,  when  i/je  Kingdoms  of  this  World Jhall  become 
the  Kingdoms  of  our  Lord,  and  of  his  Chriji  •,  and  how  ar- 
dently fhould  we  long  and  pray,  for  the  Approach  of  it  ? 

Tho'  many  Trials  may  yet  await  us,  and  we  fl:iould  be 
called  off  from  the  Stage,  before  the  Darknefs  o( the  prefent 
Night  be  pad;  yet  it  muft  be  a  delightful  Thought,  that 
the  Morning  comethy  and  will  ufher  in  a  glorious  Day  to  the 
Church,  when  the  Caufeof  Truth  and  Holinefs,  Peace  and 
Purity,  fliall  univerfally  prevail,  in  Oppofition  to  all  the 
Herely  and  Wickednefs,  Tumults  and  Corruptions,  which 
have  hitherto  overfpread  the  Earth  ;  when  the  Prayers  of 
the  Saints  in  all  Ages,  for  the  Profperity  of  Zion,  lliaU 
be  anfwered,  and  the  glorious  Things  fpoken  ot  her  in  the 
facred  Oracles,  be  fully  accomplifhed. 

We,  indeed,  may  be  laid  in  the  filentDuft,  before  this 
hleffed  Day  appears  •,  but  we  can  now  behold  it,  as  Abraham 
faw  the  Day  ot  Chrift ;  and  if  we  are  pofTelFed  of  the  fame 
excellent  Spirit,  fhall  rejoice  and  be  exceeding  glad.  Aft 
Heart  touched  with  a  dutiful  Senfe  of  God's  Honour  and 
Intereft,  can't  but  be  pleafcd,  that  he  will  be  highly  glo- 
rified in  this  apofiate  World,  where  he  has  been  infolently 
affronted,  and  provoked,  for  fo  long  a  Time  :  Such  muft 
feel  fome  peculiar  Emotions  of  Joy.  While  fome  fay  with 
the  Pfalmtfi,  in  Faith,  be  thou  exalted,  0  !  God,  above  the 
Heavens,  and  thy  Glory  above  all  the  Earth  §.  To  a  Soul 
animated  with  unfeigned  Love  to,  and  zealous  Concern 
for,  the  Caufe  and  Kingdom  of  the  dear  Redeemer,  how 
delightful  the  Profpc6l  !"-that  he  will  one  Day,  have  the 
greateft  Interefl  in  the  Hearts  of  Men  -,  take  to  himfelf 
Power,  and  reign  from  Land  to  Land,  and  Sea  to  Sea  ;  that 
his  bleffed  Gofpel,  which  is  now  treated  with  Scorn,  and 
Contempt,  by  lofl  and  perifhing  Sinners,  fhall  triumph 
over  all  the  Oppofition  of^Earth  and  Hell,  have  free  Courfe 
and  be  glorified,  throughout  the  World, 

O  !   WHAT  a  refrefhing,  what  a  reviving  Thought !  that 
thefc  Regions  of  Darknefs,  Guilt  and  Mifery,  Ihali  be  fil- 
led 

^  Pfalm  cviii.  5. 


(     38     ) 
led  with  fplritual  Light,  Life  and  Joy.     The  prefent  lan- 
gu./hinit   State   of  true  Religion,  is,    indeed,  diftrefling  ; 
and  the  nnore  fo,  when  we  confider,  that  it  may  poflibly 
continue  to  the  End  of  our  Lives  :  But  how  pleafing  the 
Contemplation,  that  it  will  certainly  be  revived.,  and  JIoii- 
rijlj,  tho'  among  future  Generations  •,  that  God  fhall  be 
ferved  anc  gloritied,  by  our  Pojierity,  in  a  far  better  Man- 
ner than  he  has  ever  been  by  us.   And  that  a  People  which 
JhaU  be  created,  Jhall  praife  the  Lord  §.     This  may  folace 
us,  under  the  near  Views  of  approaching  Death,  if,  with 
good  old  Jacob,  we  can  fay  to  our  Children,  JFe  die,  but 
the  Lord  will  be  with  you  jl.     As  a  believing  View  of  Z/(?«'s 
further  Prosperity  and  Glory,  fiiould  fupport  and  comfort 
us,  under  our  prefent  Labours  and  Trials  ;  fo  it  fhould 
enlarge  our  Hearts,  in  conftant,  fervent  Supplications  to 
the  Throne  of  Grace,  that  it  may  be  accomplilhed.     The 
Reprefentation  I  have  given,  of  the  ^a:<:^^^?>?^  corrupt  and 
degenerate  State  of  the  Church,  with  other  dark  Profpecbs 
in  the  prefent  Day,  fhould  be  fo  far  from  difcouraging,  that 
it  fhould  greatly  enliven  and  animate  our  Prayers  ;  partly,, 
as  it  tends  to  give  us  an  affe6ting  Senfe  of  our  entire  De-i 
pendafice  on  God,  for  fo  great   a  Mercy  ;  and  the  utter 
Jnfufficiency  of  all  Means  for  the  Revival, and  general  Spread 
of  true  Religion  in  the  World,  without  a  plentiful  Effufion 
of  the  divine  Spirit :   And,  partly,  becaufe  Infidelity  and 
Wickednefs  have  arrived  to  fo,  great  an  Height.,,  and  Re- 
ligion is  brought  to  fo  low-  an.  Ebb,  that  it  feerrus   as.  if 
Things  were  come  to  the  lafi  Eictrerrnty,  and  that  it  was 
a  fit  Time  for  God  to  appear,  and  difplay  the  Greatnefs 
of  his  Power,  Love  and  Faithful nefs,  to  his  Church,  to 
convince  the  World,  that  the  Gates  of  Hell  fhall  not  prevail 
againji  her.     Inilead  therefore  of  defponding,  under  the 
■pr&knt  gloomy  Jppearance  of  Things,  let  us  be  awakned 
to  greater  Fervency  in  Prayer,  and  look  forward  with  more 
earnejl  Expectations,  for  the  Dawn  of  that  glorious  Day, 
when  the  whole  Earth  fhall  be  filled  with  the  Knowledge  of 
tbf^qjrd^     And  tho'  he  fliouid  come  as  a  Refiner's  Fir e^: 

b-^"  ■■"■   "  '  ^^ 

—•—•  '■■'  ■     ■ -.  ■ ■ ■■■ ' 

§  Pi'alm  cii.  i8.  X  ^en.  xlviii.  21. 


f    99    h 

tp, purge  and  purify  his  Churches,  ih'  fhe  Furnace  of 
Affli<aioi,iv  yet  .iet,y;^yi!jpji.uni^i;j;.d  Hearts,  fay.  Come,  Lord 
Jefus  •,  ccme  quickly.     •  vv^v  -  ^  ."'-V-i'>,y\  hi\u 

Finally,  Let  us  he  aiv/ikned  in  this  dark  and  difficult 
Day,  to  a  fait^tul  zealous  Z)i/"<:^<^r^^  of  the  Duties  of  our 
Statiorks.,  tit. would  be  fad  indeed,  it,  at  fuch  a  Time,  we 
fhould  do  the  Work  of  the  Lord  carelejly  and  deceitfully  ;  if; 
by  our  Sloth  and  Neghgence\  we  fhould  increafe  the  deplo- 
rable Darknefs  and  IDeadnefsy  which  is  already  ©n  the 
Churches,  and  fuffer  the  Caufe.of  God  to  die  in  our  Hands*' 
We  have  every  Motive  to  awaken  our  Zeal,  and  quickens 
our  Diligence,  in  our  great  Work.  What  we  find  to  do  for 
God,  the  Soi4h;Q^  our  Hearers,  and  our  hlcedmg  Country, 
we  fhould,  in  fuch  a  Day  as  this,  do  with  all  our  Might. 
Allow  me  in  particular,  to  prefs  the  Necejfity  and  Impor- 
tance of  uniting  our  molt  vigorous  Attempts  for  a  thorough 
and  general  Reformation.  This  is  what  we  propofed  in  our 
judicatory,  ^nd  to  which  vrc  unanimoujly  agreed,  viz.  That 
we  would  not  only  explain,  and  zvarmly  prefs  in  our  public 
Difcourjes,  the  Necejfity  of  a  Reformation,  but  exert  ourf elves 
in  our  J  ever  al  Spheres  of  Influence,  to  bringit  about.  This 
is  what  God- is  mofl  evidently  and  loudly  calling  us  to,  in 
the  prefent  Day.  He  has  of  late  been  giving  extraordinary 
Warnings,  ot  impending  Judgments,  by  mighty  Winds, 
prceternatural  hiundations,  apd  terrible  Earthquakes  in  divers 
Places^  THe;Framc:  ofi^atrtire  feem.s.to  have  been  caft  iota 
a  trembling  Diforder,  at  the  Approach  of  an  angry  God, 
and  as  it  were  in,  Aftonifhment,  fokmnly  to  call  on  the 
Inhabitants  of  a  guilty  World,  tor^^«/,  and  return,  before; 
his  Wrath  comes  upon  them  to  the  utmoft.  The  Difplea- 
fure  of  Heaven,  has  been  once  and  again  teftificd  againfl 
our  Nation  2ind- JLand.  We  have 'felt  ihf^  Rebukes  of  an.: 
incenfed  Deity.  Tht  Caufe  of  all  which  Calamities,- is  noto-  ' 
rious  arid  evident  to  all,  who  have  any  due  Scnje  ot  God 
on  their  Minds,  or  beheve  that  he,  rules  among  the  Children . 

of  Men.     God   is  openly  and  publiekly  affronted; his 

Name  ufed  and  prophaned, .  in.  ilhe-  moft  atheiftical  ^\2i\\- 
ner-i-^-hisX^zi^j  violated  \—:Am<,4uthority  delpifcd  j— the 

loud 


(     4**     f 

loud  Calls  of  his  Word  and  'Providence  difregarded ;-'— an3' 
all  the  Riches  of  his  Grace^  In  the  Golpel,  flighted  •,— — 
while  Profanity  and  Infidelity^  Luxury  and  Debauchery^  Pride 
and  Opprejfion^  reign  without  Controul,  among  thofe  that 
make  no  Pretenfions  to  Religion.  Decays  in  P'aith,  Love 
and  Zeal,  a  Conformity  to  the  World,  and  Deadnejs  to  fpi- 
ritual  and  divine  1  hings,  are  vifible,  and  lamentable, 
among  its  Profejfors.  Thefe  Things  have  kindled  the 
Anger  of  Heaven  againft  iis,  and  it  is  not  turned  away ; 
but  his  avenging  HtTind  is  Jiretched  out  Jiill.  Andjloall  not 
Ccd  pinijh  for  thefe  Things  ?  Will  he  not  he  avenged  on  ftich 
a  People  as  this  ?  Can  we  expeft,  that  all  the  public  Con-' 
icmpt  thrown  on  his  Authority  and  Government,  will  be 
pafTed  by  without  Tokens  of  his  angry  Refentment,  unlefs 
Repentance  and  Reformation  prevent. 

It  is  well  known,  that  I  have  not  been  backward  in 
ufing  the  little  Influence  I  have,  in  animating  my  Country^ 
men,  to  a  vigorous  Defence  of  their  Lives  and  Liberties,  m 
the  ufe  of  all  proper  Means  •,  and  I  wifh  it  were  in  my 
Power,  to  awake  in  them  a  greater  Senfe  of  the  Neccfllty 
of  being  alive,  and  thoroughly  engaged  in  this  Matter. 
But  I  muft  freely  declare,  I  have  no  Expectations  of  Safe- 
ty to  the  Nation  or  hand,  from  any  of  our  PreparaticnSy 
till  a  Senfe  of  our  Dependance  or\  God,  and  a  Difpofition  to 
return  to  him  by  Repentance  and  Reformation,  prevails. 
The  Judgments  of  Heaven  are  manifeftly  on  us  ;  but  who 
lays  it  to  Heart?  Who  fuitably  regards  the  Works  of  the 
Lord,  and  the  Operations  of  his  Hand  ?  We  can  difcern,  or 
imagine  we  difcern,  the  Caufe  of  our  Calamities,  in  the 
Weaknefs  of  one,  the  Cowardice  of  another,  and  the  Treachery 
of  a  third,  whilft  the  procuring  Caufe  of  all  is  overlooked 
and  forgot.  That  our  Danger  is  great,  and  near^  is  ac- 
knowledged by  all  •,  but  where  do  we  look  forDeliverance  ? 

Is  it  not   to   our  victorious  Fleets  ? the  IVifdom  of  our 

Commanders? — the  Number  and  Bravery  o{  our  Men  ? 
Our  mournful  Difappointments,-  inftead  of  curing,  do  but 
increafe  our  Infidelity  and  Folly.  We  can  fee  the  Error 
of  our  lafi  Scheme,  and  determine  to  rectify  it  in  the  next  •, 

almoft 


e  41  ) 

Jllmoft  ever/  6n6  imagines,  ht  could  rotTdu(5t  Matters  bet- 
ter, and  point  out  a  Way  of  Safety,  if  he  was  at  the  Head 
of  Affairs  5  but  forgets,  that  ibe  Race  is  not  to  the  S-xift^ 
nor  the  Battle  to  the  Strong.  The  Hand  of  God  is  difregar- 
ded  v— no  fuitable  Pains  taken,  to  remove  the  Caufe  of 
his  awful  Difpleafure  againft  us.  But  till  there  be  fome 
public,  vifible  Humiliation  for,  and  Reformation  of,  thofe 
open  Abominations,  which  cry  to  Heaven  for  Vengeance  ; 
we  need  not  think  it  ftrange,  if  God  Ihould  fend  fuch  a 
Spirit  of  Confufion'mio  2\\  ouv Qoxmcih  •,— -fuffer  fuch  crofs 
Jnterejis,  mutual  Jealoufies^  and  Difiruft\  (uchDivi/io'/is  and 
Perplexities^  to  prevail  in  our  Schemes,  as  naturally  tend 
to  defeat  all  our  Attempts,  and  bring  about  our  Ruin. 
Should  this,  Ifay,  befal  us,  it  would  be  no  ftrange  Thing ; 
'tis  no  more  than  what  has  frequently  happened  to  a  ^- 
ful,  impenitent  People  i — no  more  than  what  we  have 
Reafon  to  expedt,  if  Repentance  prevent  not  §.  We,  My 
Brethren,  who  are  fet  on  the  IValls  of  God's  Jernfaleni,  to 
give  V/arning  of  approaching  Danger,  can't  but  fee  the 
Neccffity  of  Repentance  and  Reformation,  to  avert  im- 
pending Judgments ;  and  iurely  it  concerns  us,  to  join  in 
with  the  alarmingCalls  of  divine  Providence,  and  endeavour 
to  awakefli  in  all  around  ys,  a  Senfe  of  thefe  Things.  The 
Eyes  ot  God,  Angels  and  Men,  are  upon  us,  to  obferve 
our  Conduft  in  this  Day  of  publick  Calamity  and  Diftrefs. 
From  KJ,  the  beginning  and  carrying  on,  thisfo  7iecef]\iry 
A  Work,  \s  ju-ftly  expedled,  whofe  Obligations  to,  and 
Advantages  for  i't,  are  great  and  diftinguifhing. 

The  Gkry  of  God-,  the  hiterefl  ot  Religion  ;  the  Wel- 
fare of  our  bleeding  Country,  and  the  folemn  Account  wc 
mull  foon  give  to  our  Judge,  call  aloud  for  our  diligent 
Activity  and  Zeal,  in  this  Matter,  as  well  as  our  own 
public  voluntary  Agreement,  that  we  would  unite  our  En- 
deavours, and  exerc  our  Influence  in -our  feveral  Stations, 
for  this  Purpofe  i  in  which  we  humbly  hope,  and  earneitly 
defire,  that  we  may  be  joined  by  our  Brethren  of  every 

Denomination 

§  IsAi.  Ix.  12. 


(  42'  y 

Dw"ioTnvnatiort'''tlirotigb6ot  the  Land.  '  The  Exanhpre  ahd 
Advice  of  thofe  of  the  faered  Chara^er^  -we  might  rea- 
fonably  €xpe£t,  woiild  aftimat-e  Afe^/j^r^/^j,  and  Heads  of 
Fmnilks^  to  engage  in  the  fame  laudabh  Defigri^  prove  the 
Means  of  bringing  aboutthe'fo  much  needed,  and  wifli'd 
for  Refctmation^  and-  fo  of  faving  a  finning  Land^  from 
deferved  impending  it^/m.  Let  our  Attempts  for  this 
Purpofe,  according  to  ourPn&pafiil'^i,  be  accompanied  with 
extraordinary /V^'^T  to  God,  who 'has  the>7/i?«r/j  of  all 
Men  in  his  Hand-,  arid  ito 'this  w-e  may- be  excited' and  en^ 
couraged,  by  aVariety  of  Moti\?es  j  and  in  p'articular,  from 
a  Profpeft  of  being  joined  by  many  in  feveral  Parts  of  the 
Land.  Our  Brethren,  in  f>me  Parts  of  New-England, 
have  fet  us  a  laudable^  Example,  in  this  Refpe^t,  and  I 
hope  their  Zeal  and  Forwardnefs,  will  provoke  very  many  ; 
and  now  God  begins  to  pour  outa  Spirit  of  Prayer,  and 
Supplication  of  Repentance  and  Reformation,  on  Minifters 
and  People  §,  we  ought  to  efteem  it  a  Token  for  Good;—' 
it  fhould  animate  our  Prayers  -^—envigordte  our  Hopes  ;-- 
2Lnd  enliven  all  our  Attempts  for  the  Safety  and  Deliverance 
of  our  Country.  And  while  we  are  opening  to'  our  People  a 
dark  Scene,  from  the  crying  5m,  and  diftrefling  C^/«w///>j 
of  the  Day,  to  alarm  and  aroufe  them  from  theifr  Security 
and  vain  Confidence-,  I  truft  we  Ihall  not -fail  to  animate 
them  to  a  vigorous  Defence  of  .their  Lives  and  Properties, 
by  letting  before  them  all  the  Horrors  oi  Popery,  Slavery 
and  Death,  which  may  follow  the  vitioxtms.  Arms  of  our 
antichriRian  Foes,  on  t?he  one  Hand;  and  o^ the  other,  all- 
the  invahiablei^nw/^^f5  of  unadulterated  C/?f/,'??>w;Vy,  Bri- 
tifij  Liberty  ■mdPropeny,\^  a  delightful  and  fruitful  C^«;?- 
/?j,  which :may' be  the  hiappy  Cohiequences  of  ^  our  vlgo- 
rcujly  exerting  our  felves  to  Bring  them  to  honourable  Terms 

■     -.^-..v-.     ,,  of 

__; .  ^  ,    , — -I— -«— I 'rn',  jtV;..'\.  •  ;;'i    "  j.  .1  iA:j.i — r.  »:i:''  "  "  - 

*  The  Synod  agreed  to  recommend  it  to  their  Gbn^i^egatioiis,  to 
fpend  j»  Part  of  the  laft.Thurfday  of  e«ery  .Month,  in  extraodinary 
Prayer  to  God,  on  Account  of  the  diftreffed  Situation  of  our  public 
Affairs.  ' 

..  §   While-I  wa-ft-tr-anfcribing  this-Part  of-myBtfcoaTieyreeeiv-fQ-  iemc 
encouracrino;  Accounts  of  this  Kind. 


{  43  ) 
of  Peace.— Privileges  of  infinite  Value  !  for  which  we  fhould 
bravely  refolve,  to  fpend  our  laft  Breath,  in  Prayer  -,  the 
laft  Penny  of  our  Eftates,  and  the  laft  Drop  of  our  Blood. 
The  Face  of  our  public  Affairs  has  indeed  hitherto  looked 
i^ark,  from  a  Spirit  of  Animojity  and  Divifton,  which  has 
fpread  thro'  the  Country  ;— divided  our  Councils  ;— con- 
fufed  and  greatly  weakened  all  our  Schemes.  But,  blejfed 
he  God,  there  is  now  a  Foundation  laid,  for  our  happy 
Union  under  a  noble  Commander,  a  Branch  of  that  illuftrious 
Family,  which  has  fo  long  been  diftinguifhed  for  their 
warm  Attachment  to,  and  Zeal  for,  the  Religion  and  Li- 
berties of  their  Country.  The  fignal  Proofs  he  has  already 
given,  of  his  good  Condu£f,  unfloaken  Loyalty,  and  fleady 
Attachment  to  our  excellent  Confiitution  ;  his  generous  dif- 
interefted  Love  to  the  Britifh  American  Colonies,  which  in- 
duced him  to  fubmit  to  all  the  Fatigues  and  Dangers  of  his 
important  Station,  for  their  Relief,  joined  with  all  the 
amiable  ^alities  he  has  difcovered  ;  confpire  to  raife  him 
high  in  our  EJleem  and  Regard;  and  muft  naturally  tend 
to  raife  our  drooping  Spirits,  and  enkindle  in  every  Breaft, 
a  noble  Ardor  to  diltinguifh  themfelves  in  the  Service  of 
their  Country. 

And,  fhould  the  feveral  Colonies  harmonioufly  unite, 
to  ftrengthen  his  Hands,  and  nobly  exert  themfelves  in 
the  common  Caufe,  he  might  be,  under  God,  a  happy  Injlru- 
ment  of  retrieving  our  fhameful  Loffes,  of  humbling  our 
ambitious  triumphing  Foes,  and  reftoring  Peace  and  Tran- 
quility to  this  bleeding  Land.  Which,  may  GOD,  of 
his  infinite  Mercy,  grant,  thro'  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord, 
AMEN. 


FINIS, 


■^.S'-.'J  3f. 


i 


^ 

m 


pi 


r  { I  A  f  -  D  I 


---'tZ'    in  pi 


7  J 


*^ 


<:» 


%  J  o H n;p I e r s oi^,  ^.  m. 

Mi7iijier  of  the  Gafpel  at  Woodbriuge,  New-Jerfey, 


II 
i 


I    Cor.  iv.  2.   //  zV  required  in  Sfe'w.7rds  that  a  Man  be  found  Fuitlful. 
I    Cor.^vii.  25. As   one  that  hath  obtained  Mercy  of  the  Lord  to  be 


FaiihfJ. 


'W~ 


''^J 
'-3'?^ 


ISl  E  W-T  O  R  Kt 

Printed  and  Sold  by  James  Parker^  at  the  New- 
Printing-Officc  in  Beaver- ftreet.    1748.  fe 




ijiery  &c. 


an 

Epi 

Andh 

efihe 

aicribed, 

holy  Hill  0, 

King  and 

ChrilHan  B 

and  Title 

gelift,  or 

Gofpel  in  the  unchri 

public  Affairs  of  the  Churches 


t    ■ 

21. 

'airs,  and  ho\ 

tjai^j^NlTnif^r 

ch  the  infpired 
vvlicn  he  was 
e  fent  by  this  . 
ention  made; 
^lycLici^Sy . 
he  endearing , 
'action  to  him  : , 
a  MiniJI&r  h:y    or 
e  is   emphatically 
Gad  hath  Jet  upon   his 
ch,  and  the  univerfal 
Perfon  was  not  only  a 
^Lord  Christ,  which  is  a  Name 
He  feems  to  have  been  an  Evan- 
g  ♦ith»  the   Apoftle,  in  fpreading  the 
and    ii?*  going  on  his  Errands   in  the 
for  the  Minillry  of  the  Evangclifts  was 


fubordinate  and  fubfervient  to  that  of  the  Apoftles,  by  w'hom  therefore  they 
were  direflcd  in  the  Difcharge  of  their  Office.  And  to  his  facred  Character 
is  added  this  honourable  Epithet,  Faithful;  He  is  ftiled,  a  faithful  MiniJIcr 
ef  the  Lord ;  and  this  is  mentioned  of  him  to  his  liigh  and  lafting  Honour, 
and  juft  Commendation  :  And  this  Commendation,  the  Apoftle  did  not 
rafhly  or  overhaftily  give  him  ;  for  we  find,  that  having  Occafion  to  men- 
tion him  again  in  another  Epiille,  he  ufes  the  fame  Language,  and  appliei 
to  him  the  fame  honourable  Charafter  ;  All  my  State  Jhall  Tychicus  declare 
unto  you,  nvho  is  a  bcLted  Brother,  and  a  faithful  Minifer,  and  Fellcw- 
Sewunt  in  the  Lord  -f.  So  that  this  Honour  he  had,  to  be  acknowledged  by 
the  infpired  Apoftle,  a  faithful  Minijitr  of  Chrif  :  Whence  we  may  obfervd 
this  Doftrine, 

Doer.  That  it  is  to  a  Matis  true  Honour,  jujl  and  great  Comtnendation  to  he 
fi  faithful  Minijler  of  the  Lord  ]e&vs  Christ  ;  or  to  be  truly  faithful  in  the 
Difcharge  of  the   Gofpel  Miniflry,  and  Performance   of  the  Duties  thereof,   to  be 

a  faithful  MinifJer  cfChriJi,  is  a  truh   honourable  Churader. This  entitles  a 

Man  to  true  Honour,  even  that  wliich  comes  from  God  only,  who  is  the 
alone  Fountain  of  all   true  Honour.     Here  I  lliall  endeavour  to  fliew, 

I.  WHAT 


*  Cui-  iv.  7,  i^  lit.  iii.  iz. 


t  ^ol 


4  ^ke  Faithful  Mlnlfier  ; 

I.  "V7  HAT  15  implied  in  t\iQ  fnthful  Difcharge  of  the  Gofpel  Minldrjr-,, 
or  when  a  Man  may,  be  '.aid  to  ba  indeed  ^^tg|A^|kaK^^^Or,  what  is  necef- 
iary  co  conicitatc  and  adorn  the  Chchj/^^^^^^^^f^Bt^-^'^  of  Chriil.. 


of  the 

Cha- 


II.  Shew,  why  this 

Fiji,  I  am  t(f-<*n 
Goipe^  Minidri'  :  Or  what  is 
raaer  ^3  fai:hfjd  MiniHer 

I.  'ff^iinJ'-it.drhty 
ChnJU^d  is   cJjMt  ly^ 
other  EndowrQHB|^r  M  O 
will  not  entijl^WRo 
Miailier^tlieGof 
Holinefs,   (wha 
I)ulies    of  hi; 
that  holy  and 
tear  of  God,  ( 
vho  is  faidifj 
ch-irged  them, 
c  pcrfrSi  Hear 
true  Fear  of  (Jo 
Charaftcr  of  a  fai 
enjoyned  by  Apoftolic  i 
Lo^c,  Patience,  McckAefs 
out  true  Godlinefs,  a  C 
And  fuch   none  can  be  without 
wrought  in  hitn  by  the  Rev~e^^^ 
one  that  defjres  to  en':er  into  the* 
officiate  therein,  ought  moll  ferijju4l 
not  forget  that  it  is  required  of  a  Miniver 


he 
)tb 
he 

ipture 

"iTi  it  is 

Fcdtb, 

'od  with- 

Chrijiian  ? 

S&ic'.iilcation 

"ore  every 

y,  or  does 

Tieuce  of;  and 

rhl,  that  \\Q  be  klamehf;,  fohery 


jujl,  !.o!)\  te;?:pcrrte  §  ;  and  that  he  exercife  himfdf  laito  Godlinefs  1|.  Holincfs 
then  (even  that  Holinefs  ^Mithont  ^Jdch  fw  Man  /hall  fee  the  Laid)  belongs  ta. 
the  Scripture  Charafter  of  a  Steward  of  God  ;  And  this  all  unfanftiiied,  un- 
holy Miniftersi  have  Rcafon  to  think  of  with  trembling.  In  a  Word,  it 
appears  from  the  V/ork,  Dcfign,  Ends,  and  Ufe  of  the  Gofpel  Miniflry,  and 
Scripture  Qnalincations  required  pf  him  who  oiHciates  therein,  that  he  mull 
be  a  Mzxi  0^ fncere  Piety  and  true  Godlinfs. 

2.  It  belongs  to  the  Chai\iSi.r  cf  a  faithful  Mimfler  of  Corif.,  that  he  er.ters 
npcn,  and  cficiates  in  the  Gofpel  Mini  fry,  iiith  right  Jims  'and  Intentions,  and 
rwitb  pious  Fiev.'s  to  the  great  Ends  therecf ;  and  that  he  mahs  the  Glory  of  God, 
the  Honour  a;'d  Inter efi  of  Chrif,  the  fpiritital  Good  and  eternal  Uappinefs  of 
inifnortrl  Souls,  the  great  and  governing  Drfgn  cf  his  Mini  fry  ;  and  that  he 
titrightly  purfiis  thiir  noble  and  holy  Ends  in  the  nx:hole  Difcharge  of  it. 

Nothing  tends  more  to  render  a  Miniilcr  unfaithful  in  his  facred  Trud, 
X\is.nfalf:  and  --vsrcng  E::ds,  and  eo^-rvpt  Difgns  in  his  entering  upon,  and  dif- 
char'.'ini^  of  it :  Thefe  will  be  a  Eyafs  on  his  Mind  to  vitiate  his  whole  Con- 
daaf  and  deprave  all  his  Minillradons,     It  mail  not  be  any  Fart  of  his  End 


Yl.    1 1 . 


Chron.  xix.  9.     Excd.  xviii.  21.     2  Sam.  xxiii.   ^ 
X  Tit.  iii.  5.  §  Tit.  1.7.^. 


I  I  Tim.  iv.  7. 


A  Funeral  SERMON.  ^ 

•r  Motive,  much  lefs  his  primary  Intention  and  laft  Defign,  to  provide  liimfelf 
with  eardily  Accoiumodations,  and  get  a  Livelihood  in  the  World;  as  re- 
tnembring  the  folemn  Charge  of  the  ApoiUe,  to  take  theOverJight  of  the  Flock 
(or  Church)  c-f  God,   not  for  filthy  Lucrt,  but  of  a  ready  Mind  *.     Neither  may 


he  be  ailu^ted  herein 
Men  :   He  mufi;  not  k 
Glory  froni  th 
not  be  influen^pP|j|ffe 
Gairv,  and  vain  Appra?if( 
always  ha(/e  the  Glory 
Happiners  of  Men  in  hi 
and  iail  End  of  all  Thin 
diredly  tends  to  advu; 
alienated  from  t.\\edi-viue  Life 
Faith  in  Chrift,  and  v 
and  in  this  IVay  brin 
pinefs,  nvhcrein  God 
fallcft  Manifefci 
pious  View 
the  v/hole 
affeflionate 
tlie  Advanc*n^ 
adapted  :  He 
Kingdom,  and  fpfeai 
extend  the  bleffed  ^" 


Av  t(0  his  own  Honour  and  Applaufe  among 
ff^ttl\,   ox  he  defirous  thiriof\,   nor  feek 
'ouHIr  comes  from  God  only  ||  :  He  mufi: 
pus,  and  carnal  Defigns,  or  purfue  worldy 
ifeh'arge  of  his  lioly  Office  ;  bat  therein 
£h?iil,  and  the  fpiritual  Good  and  eternal 
The  Glory  of  God  is  the  grand  Defign 
ticular  of  the  Gofpel  Minillry,  which 
e  it,  by   recovering  Men  (naturally 
rue  Knowledge  and  Love  of  God,  thro' 
.Obedience  to  his  revealed  Will ; 
ftlvation,  and  heavenly  Hap- 
y  the  brighteft  Difplay  and 
''Feyfcdions  :   And  with  a 
utMinifier  will  attend  to 
alfo  liSve  a  religious  and 
tere'ft  of  his    great   Lord  ;  for 
Miniliry  was  inftituted,  and  is  well 
fign  to  advance  the  Name,  inlarge  the 
ot  Chrill  among  Men,  and  more  and   more 
Grace  in  the  World  ;  To  hi?,!  to  li-~je  is  Chrift : 
And  vvith  facred  SolfcituJe  he  will  endeavour,  that  Chrif  may  be  magnified  ** 
by  him  in  the  univerfal   Difcharge  of  hi?  Duty  :  He  will  twt  preach  himfclu 
but  Chrif  the  Lord  W ;  and  ftudioully  endeavour  to  promote  his  Intereft  in 
the  V/orld  ;  he  will  not  feek   his  own  Glory,  but  the   Glory  cf  him  that  fht 
him  X\,  according  to  xh.&Exa?nple  of  his  holy  Mailer.     In  a  Word,  a  faithful 
Miniller  will  perform  every  Part,  and  all  the  Duties  of  his  facred  Fundion,; 
with /wj /7t<zu,  that   God  mt^y  h&  X^hzvehy  glorified  thro''   "fefiis  Chrif  §§.      And 
in  Subordination  hereunto,  he  will  feck  and  endeavour  the  fpiritual  Good  and 
immortal  Welfare  of  the  Souls  of  Men.  This  is  the  next  and  imi-nediate  Defign 

of  the  Gofpel  MinJftry. C.'hriil  fends    his  Minifters  to   epcttMins  Ejcs   and 

turn  thcmfro7n  Darhufs  to  Light,  andfro7n  the  Ponvrr  of  Satan  to  God,  that  they 
may  recci-veForginjenrf  of  Sins,  and  Inheritance  among  thcTn  ivhich  arc  fanHified  ||j|. 
Tiiey  are  appointed  (and,  when  it  plcafeth  God^by  him  ufcd)  to  be  Inflru- 
ments  of  Men's  Regeneration  *4-,  fpiritual  Edification  \\,  and  eternal  Sal- 
vation j|:j:,  by  the  facred  Means  of  Gofpel  Minillratlons ;  and  therefore 
in  performing  them,  ChriiTs  faithful  Minifters  will  have  their  Eye  always' 
fiXed  on  this  blefl'ed  and  important  Defign  of  all  their  MiniflerialTranfai^tions,. 
and  Gofpel  Adminiltrations. 

3.  Mini  ferial  Fidelity  requires,  that  the  Servants  of  Chrif  take  Heed  to  their 
Minifry  to  fulfil  it,  and  difharge  the  ^jarious  and  many  Parts  aiU  Duties  of 
their  Of  cc,  and  not  leai)e  utiy  of  them  unperformed  \* . 

Varioua- 


t  Johnxii.^3.     X  Gal.  V.  26.     §    iThefT.  ii.  6.     |j  John- 
1.20,  21.     'W  2  Cor,  iv.  5.     Xt  John  vii.  18.     §§    1  Fet. 
jv.  II.     ijji  Afts  ,\xvi.  18.     *\.   I  Cor.  vi.  15.  Jain,  i,  18.     SX  Ep^'C-i^-  12. 
Ht  iCor.  i.  ii.     §*  Col.  iv.  17. 


*   1  Pet.  V.  3 
V.  44.     **  Phi 


6  ■  ^be  Faithjul  Mlnifier  ; 

Various  and  many  are  the  Parts  and  Duties  of  the  minifteral  Work  :  Tt  is 
indifpenfibly  required,  that  ChrilVs  Minifters  attend  diligently  unto  the  pub- 
lick  Miniftrations  of  the  Gofpel  :  It  is  no  little  Part  of  their  Duty  to  preach 
the  Gofpel  of  Peace  to  the  rebel  Children  of  Men,  and  in  Christ'-c  Name  and 
Stead,  as  his  AmbaJJadors,  to  befcech  them  to  be^^oncikdto  God,  thro"  the  Death 
tfhis  Son  *.     They   are  folemnly  cljM^|4^BilflB|i^0r^,  be  znjiant 


Seafcn,  out  of  Sea/on,  repro'ue,  rebuke,  ^f/feJ^^/l^fl^/Mtk^-/uJ}ring  a7!d 
Doctrine  f.  And  hereunto  they  muft  attend  witi^feduldb^lP  faithful  Dili- 
gence, as  they  would  not  be  found  and  dealt  \vith  as  idle  Shepherds,  unfaith- • 
iul  Stewards,  and  flothful  Servants,  by  their  great  and  holy  Lord  at  his 
coming  and  Kingdom.  And  they  are  under  the  facred  Bonds  of  Office,  as 
well  as  a  divine  and  folemn  Charge,  to  gim^'^hemfihes  continually  to  Prayer, 
find  to  the  Mini/try  of  the  JVordX-  ,  And  hctein  they  muft  ffudy  to  approve 
themftl'ves  unto  God,  Workmen  that  -need  not^j^J/jamed,  by  rightly  dividing  the 
Word  of  Truth   §,  atzd giving  unto  e^^r^m^SjOjmlttbilouJhold  their  Portion  of 

is  required  of  them  to  give  t^J^^^ti^^S^^^mi^xon  fuited  to  their 
refpedive  NecelTities,    vafifSus  W^fflffisS^dS^IHifeuand  this  is  to  be 
done  by  a  Ikilful  difpenfmg  tUe/dk^Phicles,  ^"'^  KghtlwL|^g  the  Word 
of  Truth  unto   thejn.     From  ||lj|S|  Jit  ores  of  divinePputlr  jn    the  holy 
Scriptures,  a  Portion  thereof  is  tolediftribi'tcd  in  the  ftfewardly  Difpenfation 
of  God's  Word,   to  every  one  of  Chrift's  Family,  fuitable   to  their  various 
Conditions,  and  fpiritual   Circumftances :  Herein  greatly   con  fills  minifterial 
Skill  and  Fidelity.     A  difpenfing  the  Word  of  Truth,  in  the  Negleft  hereof, 
without  a  proper  dillinguiihing  ofPerfons  and -Charadiers,  Conditions  and 
Cafes,  is  fhameful  Management  in  preaching  the  Word  of  God  ;    And  unto 
a  Minifter's  rightly  dividing  the  Word,  and  Ikilful  difpenfing  divine  Mifteries 
unto  his  People,  is  required  fome  Acquaintance  with,  and  a   well-grounded 
Judgment  concerning  their  fpiritual  Circumftances  :    For,   fhould  not  a  Shep- 
herd endeavour  to  know  the  State  of  his  Flock  ?  And  how  fhould  ChrilVs 
Stewards  give  to  every  one  of  their  Charge,  a  Portion  accommodated  to  their 
various  Cafes  and  Exigencies,  and  warn  and  teach  every  one  as  their  fpiritual 
Circumftances    require   (agreeable  to  the   Apoftolic  Example  **)   without 
fome  Acquaintance  with  them  .?  or  unlefs  they  are  able   to  form  a  fuitable 
Judgment  concerning  them,  what  their  Attainments  in  Chriftian  Knowledge 
are,  whether  they  need  Milk  orftrong  Meat  f  f  ;  whether  they  are  to  belook'd 
upon  as  favingly  converted  to  God,  or  as  yet  deftitute  of  regenerating  Grace  ; 
what  is  their  Proficiency  or  Declenfion   in  Religion  ;  and    wha|  are  their 
Difficulties  and  Difcouragements,  in    the  Ways  of  God  ?     Hereunto  is  alfo 
iieceftary,  a  due  Acquaintance  with  the  ufual  Methods  of  the  faving  Opera- 
tions of  God's  Spirit,  on  the  Hearts  of  Men,  in  the  happy  Beginnings,  and 
facred  Progrefs  of  the  fame,  that  the  Difpenfation  of  the  Word  may  be  fuited    • 
to  promote  the  bleffed  Defign  of  God's  Grace  in  its  whole  Work  on  the  Souls    ■ 
of  Men  :  Want  of  fuitable  Acquaintance  with  thefe  and  the  like  Things,  will 
make  Men  unfkilful,  and   therefore  unfaithful,  in   preaching  the  Word,  and 
difpenfing  the  Myfterics  of  God  unto  the  Children  of  Men. — It  is  morever  by 
Office  incumbent  on  Chrift's  Stewards,    to  adminifter   the  facramental  Ordi- 
nances of  the  Gofpel,  explain  and  declare  tlie  holy  Ends,  Ufe,  and  Benefits 

of 

*  2  Cor. v.  i8.  19,  20.     t  zTim.  iv.  1,2.     %  A£lsvi.  4.     §  2  Tim.  ii, 
J5.     \  Luk.  xii.  4.3,  43.     **  Col.  i.  2^,    ff  Heb.  v.  14, 


A  funeral  SERMON.  7 

of  them,  and  endeavour  the  regular  Difpenfation  of  the  fiia-ed Rites  of  the 
Chriftian  Inftitution,  Baptifm,  and  the  Lord's-Suppcr,  unto  proper  Subjcfts, 
and  in  that  Manner  which  is  prefcribed  in  the  Word  of  God. — It  likewife 
belongs  to  them  in  the  Difcharge  of  their  Office,  to  infpect,  govern,  and  order 
Chriil's  Houfhold,  a^  well  as  to  difpenfe  the  VV^ord  and  Sacraments  to  them  ; 
they  are  authorized  to  adminifter'the  Spiritual  Government  and  Gofpel  Dif- 
cipline,  which  our  Lord  Redeemer  has  Ordained  to  be  exercifed  in  his  Church, 

and  obferved  among  profefficg  Chriftians. A  ChriiHan  Church  is  a  Society 

of  a  Nature  diilinft  from  all  other  Societies  of  Men,  and  hath  a  Government 
appointed  for  it  in  the  Gofpel,  fuitable  to  the  fpiritual  Conllitution  thereof; 
And  tlie  Difpenfation  of  this  facred  Difcipline  is  committed  by  Chrill:  to  his 
Minifters  :  The  Key  of  Government,  as  well  as  of  Doftrine,  is  by  him  given 
unto  them  *  ;  and  they  cannot  be  faithful  in  the  Difcharge  of  their  Office, 
imlefs  they  carefully  endeavour  to  execute  all  the  Laws,  Orders,  Cenfures, 
and  holy  Appointments  of  Chrifl's  Houfe,  according  to  his  holy  Will  revealed 
in  his  Word.  .      ^ 

4.  It  belongs  to  the  Charader  of  a  Faithful  Minifter  of  Chrift,  That  he 
be  funiijhcj luilh  futh^  Meafure  of  di--ui7te^K7ionx:hdgc,  and  of  miniflerial  Gifts 
and  All I'i tics,  as  is  Jt^^ary  for  the  unl-im^  £fdthful  Difcharge  of  his  Ojffice  ;  His 
Mind  7?iuft  he  richly  fto'^ud  ivith  fc}-ipnKT IQcwledgc,  and  ivith  fuch  a  Meafurt 
of  Acquaintance  i^ith  diK'ine  Truths,  Gofpel  Myfteries,  and  Chriftian  Dodriiies 
revealed  in  God'' s  1f'ord,^s  bears  a  due  Proportion  to  the  Greatnefs  end  Difficulty 
ffhis  Work  ;  and  be  accomplifiJ'  d  ijoith  Juch  Ability  of  imparting  the  fame  to  oherSf 
as  renders  him  apt  to  teach  \  ;  n.vhich  is  required  of  thofe  to  vchom  the  Gofpel 
Miniftry  is  to  he  comtnitted. 

He  that  is  employed  in  nxinning  Souls  to  God,  muft  be  ivife  X  >  Divine  ll'if 
do7n  (or  a  due  Knowledge  oftheGolpel)  is  necclfary  to  direft  him  in  his 
whole  miniilerial  Duty  and  Condud  :  The  Want  hereof  is  of  pernicious 
Tendency.  The  wife  Man  obferves,  that  He  that  ftndeth  a  Miffuge  h^ 
the  Hand  of  a  Fcol,  cutttth  off  the  Feet,  and  drlnketh  Damage  \  ;  as  was  molt 
fadly  exemplified  in  the  Cafe  of  the  Spies  fent  to  view  the  Land  of  C'^wi?^^, 
Numb.  x\\\.  31,32,  33.  compared  with  the  following  Chapter.  And  if  the 
Want  of  Wildom  in  one  employed  about  the  common  Affairs  of  this  Life,  be 
of  fuch  iil  Confequence  ;  what  will  it  be  in  a  Mefienger  employed  in  the  great 
Affairs  of  Chrift's  Kingdom  and  Interell  in  the  World,  and  of  the  precious 
Souls  of  Men,  who  ought  to  be  one  of  aThoufand  ||  !  He  that  would  approve 
himfelf  faithful  in  the  miniflerial  Work,  before  he  enters  upon  it,  mull:  be 
in  a  fuperior  Degree,  Jkilfil  in  the  Word  cj  Right eoufnefs,  and  be  furnifhed  with 
fuitable  Attainments  in  Chrifcian  Knowledge,  and  confiderable  Acquaintance 
with  the  Myfteries  of  the  Kingdom  of  God  ;  and  he  muft  ufe  earnelt  Diligenca 
to  m.ake  good  Proficiency  therein;  and  to  this  Y.w^y.gi've  hirnfelf  to  Rcadivgy 
Meditation,  and  Prayer,  that  his  profiting  may  appear  to  all  **.  He  will 
incur  the  Guilt  of  horrid  Unfaithfulnejs  if  he  be  flothful  and  negligent  in  his 
Studies  :  It  requires  much  Study  and  painful  Diligence  to  obtain  fuch  a  Mea- 
fure  of  divine  Knowledge  and  miniflerial  Furniture,  as  is  proportionable  to 
the  Greatnefs  and  Difficulty  of  his  Work,  which  is  fuch  as  would  be  equal  to 
the  Capacities  of  the  bright  Angels  of  Light,  were  they  cmplcyed  therein.--- 
Itisnofmall  Meafure  of  Knowledge  and  fpiritual  Endowments,  that  is  fuf- 

ficient 


•  Matt.  xvi.  19.     f   2  Tim.  ii.  e,  and  24.  1  Tim.  iii.  2,     +  Prov,  ji.  30. 
i  Prov.  ;txvi,  6.     ||  Job  xxxiii.  23,    ^  i  Tiro.  iv.  ^3,  v;5,- 


S  l^he  Faith  Jul  Minijier', 

ficient  to  qualify  a  Man  for  the  right  and  faichful  Difcharge  of  the  minifterial 
Office:  lie  muft  not  only  have  fomeAcquaintancewith  the  learned  Languages, 
rnd  liberal  Arts,  (\vbich  will  be  ufefal  to  him  in  the  Difcharge  of  his  Office) 
but  alfo  be  richly  furnifh'd  with  Knowledge  and  Skill  in  Divinity  :  He  muft 
be  well  acquainted  with  the  Principles  of  the  Doftrine  of  Chrift,  in  their 
proper  Order  and  Connexion,  with  the  whole  Syftem  of  Gofpel  Dodlrines, 
and  Scheme  and  Dcfign  of  the  Chriilian  Revelation,  as  exhibited  to  us  in 
the  divine  Oracles ;  and  have  fuch  a  diftinft  clear  View  thereof,  as  may 
jenable  him  to  declare  all  the  Council  of  God,  and  make  known  to  Men  the 
Gofpel  Way  of  Salvation  by  Jefus  Chrift;  and  inftrudl  them  in  iheir  whole 
Duty  to  God  and  Man  :  For  he  muft  hold  faft,  and  hold  forth,  the  Fonn  cf 
frjiiTid  Words  in  Faith  and  Lo'vc  in  Chriji  Jifus  *.  Neither  may  he  be  unac- 
quainted Vvfith  the  Controverfies  which  have  fo  much  troubled  the  Church  of 
Chrifi,  even  from  its  early  Ages  ;  or  be  unfkilful  in  ^iefending  the  Truths  of 
the  Gofpel  ;  for  he  muft  be  able  by  found  Dodrine  both  to  exhort  and  con- 
vince Gain-faj-ers  f .  But  efpecially  and  above  aU  it  is  necefiary,  that  he  be 
well  vcrfed  in  textual  Divinity,  and  ha-^'e  the  Word  cf  Chrifi  dnxiell  in  him 
richly  in  all  Wifdom  %  5  that  he  be  much  acquainted  with  the  holy  Scriptures, 
and  cultivate  a  facred  Familiarity  with  them  ;  that  hi(|rSermons  may  be  em- 
bellifa'd  with  the  Language  of  th*  MJllpi  Writings,  &0  v/ith  fuch  Pafiages 
thereof  as  are  proper  to  well-illuftrate  and  confirm  th^fSjubjecEls  of  them,  which 
is  their  real  Beauty,  true  Excellency,  and  beft  Ornament ;  and  is  commended 
to  us  by  Apoftolic  Example  §,  which  is  our  Pattern :  He  muft  be  furniftied 
with  fuch  Knowledge  of  the  divine  Oracles,  as  may  enable  him  to  riglitly 
expound  and  gii.e  the  true  Sctife  cf  them  j],  and  lead  his  Hearers  into  a  due 
Underftanding  thereof:  For  he  muft  endeavour  to  teach  Men  all  whatfoever 
is  revealed  or  commanded  by  Chrift  in  his  V/ord  **,  and  fpeak  as  the  Oracles 
of  God 'W,  and  confirm  his  Doftrines  by  the  Laiv  a7id  the  '■Irfif)2ony  J  J  ;  and 
therefore  it  is  efpecially  the  Duty  of  Chrift's  Minifter^,  to  gi-ve  Att aide  nee  to 
reading  the  Word  of  God  §§,  and  meditate  therein  Day  and  Night  1||] ;  and  to  daily 
fearch  §*,  and  be  abundantly  convcrfant  in  the  holy  Scriptures,  a«  knowing 


require -no  fmall  Degree  of  holy  Knowledge  and  divine  Skill  in  a  Chriftian 
Minifter,  to  rr.ake  pcrfonal,  fui^-.ble,  and  reafonable  Applications  and  Ad- 
dre'fTes  to  the  People  of  his  Charge  in  private,  Vv'ith  refped  to  their  fpiritual 
Affairs  and  Intcreits ;  and  to  inftru£l,  reprove,  exhort,  and  comfort  them  as 
Occafion  requires  and  Opportunity  offers.  And  this  may  by  no  Means  be 
negledled  by  thofe  that  would  approve  themfelves  faithful  in  their  minifterial 
Duty  •  Tou  knoiv  (faith  the  Apoftle)  hoiv  ^j:e  exhorted,  arj  comforted,  and 
c^^mged  e-je-ry  one  cf  you,  as  a  Father  doth  his  Children  1%,  And  this  Part  of  the 
minifterial  Work  when  performed  (in  Imitation  of  the  Apoftle's  Example) 
with  parental  Tenderncfs,  affeftionate  Gentlenefs,  and  Chriftian  Meeknefs, 
is  of  happy  Tendency  to  promote  and  carry  on  the  holy  Ends  and   great 


Def- 


*  2  Tim  i    n.     t  Tit.  i.  9.     X  Col.  iii   16.     §  Adsii.  i6,t0  3  5.A6ts 
—    ..    '^^^^  An    A I      II  Neh.  viii.  8.      **  Matt,  xxviii.  20.      ft   i  Pet. 
r.."'5lftvifi   J    «   .Ti,n.i..,3.     ll«Pfal.i...     5'  Afts  xvE 
,;.    fS^Tim.  iii.  15, 16,17.     lit  iTheffa.!!.  11. 


A  Funeral  SERMON.  9 

Defign  of  the  Gofpel  Miniftry ;  neirhcr  can  a  Minifler's  Care  for  the  fpiritual 
Good  of  his  People,  in  the  Sight  cf  God  duely  appear,  in  *  the  Neo-Jeft  of 
this  Duty.  And  therefore  how  greatly  to  be  lamented  is  the  two  freouent 
and  common  Negled  thereof  It  does  alfo  require  not  a  little  fpiritual  Skill 
and  di'vine  Learmng,  to /peak  a  Word  in  Sccfcn  to  tJiofe  that  are  •v.-cary  \,  and 
deal  wifely,  fafely,  and  faithfully  with  awakened  and  dillrefTcd  Confcicncies ; 
and  to  fhun  the  dangerous  Extremes  of  Soul- deftroying  Flattery  on  the  one 
Hand,  and  a  Soul-difcouraging  Severity  on  the  other ;  both  which  every 
faithful  Miniiler  will  endeavour  carefully  to  avoid.  In  fine,  a  good  Meafure 
of  fpiritual  Gifts  and  minifterial  Abiliaes  is  neccfTary  in  Chrilt's  Minifters, 
that  they  maybe  able  to  carry  the  Cafes  and  NecefTities  of  their  People  before 
the  1  hrone  of  Grace,  in  proper  and  fuitable  Addrefles  to  Heaven  on  their* 
Behalf,  both  in  public  Worfhip,  and  on  more  private  Occafions  and  Emer- 
gencies. From  all  which  it  is  clearly  evident,  that  no  fmall  Attainments 
in  divine  Knowledge  and  minifterial  Gifts,  are  requifite  to  conllitute  and 
adorn  the  Chara£\er  of  a  faithful  Servant  of  Christ. 

5.   A  faithful  Minilter  of  Chrill  ivill  ?nake  it  his  great  Dejtgn,  earnrjl  Care, 
and  confiant  Endeosjour  to  pleafe  his  holy  Lord  and  di-vine  Mnjler,  in  the  Dijcharge  *^ 
of  his  Offue,  and  njohole  ininif.crinl  Conduif. 

He  that  is  allowed  of  God  to  be  put  in  Trufl  with  the  Gofpel  (and  is 
faithful  thereiH)  n.Li!lfpcak,  preach  and  perform  all  Gofpel  Miniftrations  not 
as  pleafmg  Men,  but  God,  ^.vho  trid'h  his  Heart  J.  He  w  ill  not  feek  to  pleafe 
Men,  by  accommodating  his  Miniftry  to  their  corrupt  Difpofitior.s ;  hut  ly 
the  Mar.ifcjlation  of  the  i'ritth,  co7n7ncnd  hivifclf  to  enj^ty  Mans  Confcicnce  in  the 
Sight  of  God  §.  He  will  not  corrupt,  or  adulterate,  the  H'ord  cf  God,  difguifc 
Tr.:th,  varniih  over  Errors,  or  endeavour  to  fuit  his  Doclriaes  to  the  Luils 
of  Men,  and  preach  fmooth  Things  to  them  ;  hut  feed  them  ^^ith  the  fnc.re 
Milk  of  the  Word,  declare  the  Truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and nvith  facnd Sincei i.'y 
fptak  as  in  the  Sight  of  God  \.  He  will  not  negkft  to  preach  and  inculcate 
Gofpel  Truths  and  Duties,  becaufe  they  are  di;la:kful  to  the  erring  Minds, 
and  depraved  Inclinations  of  his  Hearers  ;  nor  conceal  divine  Truths,  or 
abate  from  tjie  Stridlnefs  of  Gofpel  Commands  to  gain  their  Favour,  or  fecure 
their  Friendfiiip  ;  but  endeavour  to  declare  all  the  Council  of  God,  and  keep 
hack  nothii.g  that  is  profitable  for  them  **.  He  will  not  flatter  Men  in  their 
Sins  and  Unregeneracy  with  vain  Hopes  of  Impunity  and  Safety,  faying. 
Peace  to  thi?n,  nvhcn  there  is  no  Peace  j  f,  but  Danger  of  their  fudden  Defiruftion 
XX  :  But  on  the  Contrary,  will  faithfully /-^-ti;  them  their  Sitjs  and  Liabhncfs 
to  Ruin  \\,  and  warn  them  from  the  V/ord  of  God,  ivhethcr  they  ivill  hear, 
or  ivkethcr  they  <ivill  forbear  \\\\  ;  that  he  may  approve  himfelf  a  faithful 
Watchman,  and  deliver  his  own  Soul,  even  tho'  obfiinate  Sinners  die  in  tJ.^eir 
Iniquities  \^.  Briefly,  a  faithflil  Servant  of  Chrifl  will,  in  the  Discharge  of 
his  Office,  acknowledge  no  Maficr  on  Earth,  as  knoiving  he  hath  one  only 
Mcjler  in  Hea'vcn,  even  Christ  the  Lord  J|j,  to  rxhcm  he  mujl  f  and  or  fait 
in  the  great  eternal  Judgntent  :  And  in  the  confiant  Profpcd  hereof,  by  Faith; 
he  v>nll  fliew  all  good  Fidelity  in  a  formed  unOiaken  Purpofe,  and  in  earneft 
unfiiintiiig  Endeavours  to   pleaie  his  divine  MaAer  in    all  Things,  by   con- 

B  forminsfr 

*  2  Cor.  vii.  12.  f  ifa.  1.  4.  I  i  Thella..  ii.  4.  \  z  Cor.  iv.  2, 
|[  I  Pet.  ii.  2.  Eph.  iv.  21.  2  Cor.  ii.  17,  **  Ads  xx.  zo.  ff  Er.e:  xiii. 
»0-  XX  I  The/f  v.  3.  S\  Ifa.  Iviii.  i.  )||{  Ez^.ii.  7.  \\  Eze.  iii.  17? 
ib',  ij.     :t||  Mattii.  .\;iiii.  10. 


■jp  V^he  Faithful  Mi nljler :; 

forrning-all  lus  mln'ulerial  Tranfadiions  and  Conduft  to  the  Will  of  Clirift 
r-evealcd  in  liis  Word  ;  without  which  he  cannot  juilly  cxpeift  the  blelled 
Smiles  of  his  high  and  hea^^enly  Judge,  nor  to  hear  fi'om  his  facred  Lips  in 
the  great  reckoning  Day,  Hell  done  thuu  good  and  fcithful Sewant  *  ;  but  to 
be  ciilown'd  and  rejecced  by  lum  with  Shame  raid  e^jerlafring  Contempt . 

6.   lltinofi  Diligence,    and  eonf.ant  Application,  are  JiccrJJary   to    the  faithful 
Dif charge  cf  the  ininifterial  Of  ice  and  W^ork. 

The  Station  of  Chriil's  Minifters  is  a  Stage  of  Aftion  ;  various  and  ir.any 
are  the  Duties  thereof,  and  cannot  be  faithfully  performed  without  greatelt 
Adivity,  and  unwearied  Induflry — With  facred  Solemnity  it  is  enjoined 
upon  them  by  the  infpired  Apoftle,  to  ufe  utmoll  Diligence  in  preaching  the 
J/  ord.  The  Apoftle  chargith  Timothy  to  preach  the  Word  in  Seafon  and  out 
cf  Sea/an  f  ;  which  fecms  to  imply  great  Affiduity  and  Confiancy.  With  no 
lefs  Authority  this  is  recommended  to  them  by  the  facred  Examples  of  Chriil 
and  his  Apcilles.  ilow  diligent  and  unwearied  our  llefed  Lord  was  in 
preaching  tliC  Gofpel  of  his  Kingdom,  appears  from  the  facred  Hitlory 
thereof  on  divine  Record  :  Herein  he  hath  fet  his  Minifters  an  Example,  and 
they  are  bound  to  follow  his  Steps ;  as  we  find  his  aflive  and  zealous  Apoftles 
did,  di.ily  in  theTcviple^  and  in  every  Hotfe,  they  ceafd  ?iot  to  teach  and  preach 
Jesus  Christ  %.  And  how  great  and  difiicult  is  the  Work  of  a  Minifter 
in  this  Part  of  it  ?  Herein  he  muft  endeavour  clearly  to  open,  well  explain, 
and  faith'i  uUy  declare  unto  the  People  of  his  Charge,  all  the  great  Articles  of 
the  Chificn  Faith,  and  Duties  of  an  holy,  chriftian  Life,  and  make  due  Ap- 
plication thereof  to  them,  according  to  their  various  Conditions  :  He  muft 
encicavour  to  inform  and  ccn'vince  the  Ignorant  and  Erroneous,  a^^-vakcn  the 
Secure,  rcitfe  up  fleepy  Confciences,  dete£t  Self-deceivers,  reprc-\e  the  Willful, 
rebuke  the  Obfdnate,  ivarn  the  Unruly,  comfort  theTeehlc-mindcdfupporttheWiak 
§  cjicourage  the  Fearful,  declare  the  Cenfolations  cf  the  Gcfbel  to  Mourners  in 
Zion  11,  confrtn  the  Vv''avering,  reduce  \\\&  Straying,  and  exhort  e^jc-ry  ofie  nvith 
all  Long-fjfering  and  Dc^rinc  **.  We  need  not  Wonder  to  find  the  Labours 
of  Minifters  compared  in  holy  Scripture,  to  the  Toils  of  Men  /;/  Har^ccfi  f  f , 
and  to  the  Fatigues  of  Soldiers  W-  Briefly  :  What  a  vaft  Variety,  and  great 
Abundance  cf  Labour  and  Duty,  are  to  be  performed  by  them  ?  How  many 
fublime  Truths  and  Gofpel  Myfteries,  have  they  to  ftudy  and  preach  ?  How 
many  Wiles  of  Satan,  and  Deceits  of  the  Hearts  of  Men,  to  deteft  ?  How 
many  Cafes  of  Confcience  to  refolve  ?  They  cannot  therefore  approve 
theiiifelves  Chrift's  faithful  Servants,  unlefs  they  always  abide  in  the  unfailing 
Excrcife  of  an  indefatigable  Spirit  in  the  Dilcharge  of  their  Duty.  And 
hence  'tis  evident,  that  for  them  to  indulge  themfelves  in  fecular  Avocations, 
and  unnecefihry  Diverfions  from  their  minifterial  Work,  is  very  fmful  in  the 
Sight  of  God, 'as  being  plainly  repugnant  to  the  Diredions  and  Precepts  of 
his  holy  Word  ;  which  forbids  them  to  entangle  themfelves  with  the  Affairs 
of  this  Life  §§,  and  requires  them  to  give  themfelves  wholly  to  the  Bufmefs 
of  their  facred  Calling  Pjj. 

7.  Minifterial  Fidelity  requires,  that  the  Servant  of  Chrift  do  attend  unto 
the  nx:hole  Difchargc  cf  his  Work  and  Duty,  ivith  godly  Zeal  and  facred  Fewour 
cf  Spirit.  ^^ 


«  Matt.  XXV.  21.  i  2  Tim.  iv.  i,  2.  J  Afts  v.  42.  §  i  Theflh.  v.  14. 
jj  Ifa.  xl.  I.  **  2  Tim.  iv.  2.  ff  Matt.  ix.  38.  %%  i  Tim.  ji.  3, 
§^   2Tim.ii.  4.     HI   i   Tim.  iv.  15. 


A  Funeral  S  E  R  M  ON.  ii"' 

He  muft  riot  only  be  diligent  in  the  Bufinefs  and  Duties  of  his  OfSte,   (na 
before  obferved)   but  alfo  therein   he  ftrnjcnt   in   Sfisit,  fer'ving  the  Lord  '*. 
Holy  fervent  Zeal  La  the  Ways  and  Things  of  God,  is  indifpenfibly  required 
of  all  ChriiHans  f  ;  how  much  more  cf  a  Chriftian  Miniiler :  He  mull  be  a 
burning  as   well  as  a  joining  Light  %  ;   he  muft  like  Phineas,  be  e.ccdcus  for  his 
God^  ;  zealous  for  the  Glory  of  God  in  Man's  Salvation  ;  zealous  for  the  Ho-' 
nour  and  Jnitrell  of  his  great  Lord  and  blcfTed  Saviour  ;  zealous  for  the  fpi- 
ritual  and  immortal  Wcll'are  of  precious  Souls ;    All  v.hich  are  nearly  con- 
cerned in  the  faithful  Performance  of  his   Work  and   Duty. — The  Strength 
and  Vigour  of  his  AfFeciions  and  Endeavours,  mull  be  exerted  and  employed 
in  advancing  the  Kingdom  of  Chrill  among  Men,  by   the  Converfion  of  Sin- 
ners and  Ediiication  of  Saints,  and  in  doing  Good  to  the  Souls  of  Men,  and' 
endeavouring  to  promote  their  fpiritual  Weal  and  eternal  Happinefs.     Ecrncjl 
Di fires  II  v.'hereof,  fpringing  from  holy  Zeal  for  the  Glory  of  God  in  Chrill,^ 
a  real  Com.paffion    for  immortal  Souls,  and  from  a  facred  Regard  unto  his" 
Office,  in  refpeil  to  its  Nature,  awful  Trull,  and  final  Reward;  muf:  enlit'ea 
all  his  AdndniHrations  and  m.iniilerial  Tranfa>Hions :     \Vhatevcr  his  Hand' 
finds  to  do.  in  the  Diicharge  of  his  Office,  he  muft  do  it  with  his  Might  **  ; 
therein    he.  muft  exert   himfelf  with  unlanguiihing  Vigour,  and  uncer.fmg 
Ardour  of  Soul;  an  inward  facred   V/armth   of  Spirit,    muft   coRtlnuaTiy ' 
animate  his  Breaft,  and  invigorate  him  in  all  the  Duties  of  his  f»4iniftry,  pub- 
lick  and  private;  and  engage  him  to  well-hulband  his  Time,  and  em.ploy  all 
his-Taleuts  in  the  Service  of  Chrift,  and  of  the  Souls  of  Men  ;  as  knowing 
he  ferves  a  great  and  good  Mailer,  and  matches  for  Souls  as  Ofie  that  muf  glue 
^c:ouHt  X^^  to  hi  in  that  is  ready  to  judge  quick  a>td  dead.   If  he  indulge  a  flugcdlh 
indolent  Spirit,  and  be  perfunctory  and  ftothful  in  his  Duty,  he  performs  the 
Work  of  the  Lord  deceitfully  §§,  and  refleds  great  Difhonour  upon  his  divine 
and  glorious  Mafter,  calls  high  Contempt  on  his  Service,  and  expofes  him- 
felf to  his  awful  Rcf^ntments  ;  and  rnull  expeft   from  him  that  tremendous 
Reprimand,  Thcufotl.fiil  Scr-vant  -j  -f ,  at  the  final  Judgment. 

8.   Mi;:illc7ial Fidelity    requires   a  firicl   and   cx'\SiImpartiditf  in  all  Gofpel ' 
Adminiftrations. — The  Minifters  of  Chrift  muft  imitate  the  facred  Example 
he  hatii  fet  them  in  his  own  perfonal  Miniftry  when  here  on  Earth,  v>'hich 
is  their  moft  perfecSt  Pattern.     They  muft  reprove  the  Sins  and  Faults  of  the 
Rich  and  Honourable,  as  well  as  thofe  of  a  lower  Character,  as  theirdivine  ■ 
and  holy  Mufter  did,  Johnx.  38.  Aid  ye  ha-ve  not   his  Word  abiding  i/tjou;' 
for  <whom  he  hath  fnt,  him  ye  belie^.^e  not.      And  again  in  Verfes   42,  43,  44. 
But  I  knonv  you,  that  ye  hwve  not  the  Lo-ve  of  Cod  in  you.      1  avi  come   in  7nf 
Father  s  Name,  atm  ye  receive  me  jiot :   If  another  Jhall  come  in  his  ohion  NaKe, 
him  ye  nvill  receive.      Ho'zv  can  ye  believe,  nvhich  receive  Honour  one  of  another y 
and  feek  not  the  Ho;mir  that  cc7nelh  from  God  only.     Now  it  is  juftly  fuppofed 
that  the  holy  Self -Defence  of  our  Lord,  contained  in  this  Context,  v;as  made 
before  the  Jc--'.ijh  Sanhedrim,  or  high   Court  of  Judicature,  compofcd,   no 
Doubt,  of  the  Rich  and  Honourable  of  that  Nation. 

They  muft  reprehend  the  Sins  and  hollies  of  Friends  and'  Bencfa''flors.  as 
well  as  of  thofe  that  are  unfriendly  and  difaftet'led  ;  an  Inftance  of  which 
Impanialit/  in  our  Saviour's  Practice,  is  recorded  Luke  vii.  40, — 46.     They 

n:ay  - 

*  Rom.  xii.    11.  f  Tit.  ii.  14.      Gal.  iv.  18.  t   ]oan  v.  3c, 

§  Numb.  x.xv.  13.     II  Heb.  vi.  11.      **  Ecdtf.  i.^.  10.      -Ii  Hcb   vii    i-^ 
U  Jer.  xlviii.  10.     H  Matt.  XXV.  26;.  - '"  '       "     ' 


ifi  7 he  Faithful  Mlnijler. 

may  not,  in  any  Part  of  their  minillerial  Condudl,  be  influenced  by  perfonal 
Kiuduefs  or  Prejudice,  nor  fvvay'd  by  the  Smiles  or  Frowns  of  Men;  nor 
be  byafb'd  by  Favour  and  Affection,  or  by  Hopes  of  Advantage,  or  Fears 
of  Difadvantage  ;  but  therein  maintain  an  univerfal  unfpot  ed  Impartiality. 
All  Souls  are  God''s,  and  are  of  equul  Value  in  his  S:ght  *,  and  a  divine  Equity 
i  nd  facred  Imparliality  appears  in  all  bis  Ways  ;  And  the  Minifters  of  Religion 
ought  to  imitate  this  perfed  Pattern  in  minifterial  Traiiik^tions :  '\  hey 
receive  their  Miniftry  from,  and  muft  be  finally  accountable  unto  Chust 
Jesus  their  Lord,  nuith  nx:bo??i  t'jire  is  no  RrfpcCr  of  Pcrfons  y  ;  and  therefore 
as  Partiality  in  tiie  Difcharge  of  their  Duty,  will  reflect  high  Diihono  ir  on 
him,  fo  it  will  expofe  them  to  his  juft  and  awful  Refentments.  How  folemnly 
is  Tifnothy  charged  and  warnsd  againil  this  Iniquity,   i  Tim.  v.  21. 

9.  Faiihfuhiifs  in  Chrijt''s  Minifurs  n.'^ill  difo-uer  itflf,  and  a^pfar  in  their 
attending  to  the  ivhole  DiJ charge  ofthdr  Ofice  and  Duty,  ivith  utmofi  Cure  und 
Caution,  ?nuch  Heed,  and  conjiant  IVatchfulnfs. 

It  belongs  to  the  folemn  Charge  given  by  the  Apoftle  to  his  Son  Timothy", 
that  he  Jhould  njoatch  in  all  Things  ;  without  which  he  could  not  make  full 
Proof  of  his  Miniftry  \,  or  be  faithful  therein.  It  concerns  a  IVi'iniiler  of 
Chrift,  even  above  ordinary  Chriftians,  to  maintain  a  perfonal  chrillianWatch, 
which  is  greatly  inculcated,  and  ftrongly  enforced  by  our  blefied  Lord  in  his 
Holy  Gofpel  §.  )  But  befidcs  this  he  muft  alfo  exercife  a  conftant  Care  and 
minifterial  Watch  over  the  People  of  his  Charge,  vigilantly  obferve  them, 
diligently  infpecl  into  their  fpiritual  Affairs  and  moral  Conduit ;  and  endea- 
\'our  fo  to  know  their  State  and  Circumftances,  as  to  be  able  duely  to 
accommodate  his  minifterial  Adminiftrations  both  publick  and  private  there- 
unto ;  How  elfe  does  he  take  the  0-ver-fght  of  the  Flock  of  God  committed 
to  him  i|,  according  to  apoftolic  Injundion  ?  Unlefs  he  be  'watchful,  his 
Works  (in  the  Difcharge  of  his  OfHce)  nvill  not  be  found  pcrfeSi  (or  compleat) 
before  God**.  He  muft  profecute  his  whole  Duty  with  great  Attention  of 
Mind,  to  all  the  Parts  of  it,  that  he  may  difcharge  it  in  the  fitteft  Time  and 
Manner  ;  and  carefully  watch  and  guard  againft  whatever  tends  to  defeat 
the  good  Succefs  of  his  Works. — A  fleepy  unwatchful  Spirit  and  Praftice- 
in  Chrift's  Minifters,  are  of  pernicious  and  very  dangerous  Tendency  ;_/or 
ivhilft  the  Labourers  fttpt  the  Enemies  fo^vd  Tares  -f-f-. 

10.  To  conftitute  and  adorn  the  true  Charafter  of  a  faithful  Mi  sifter,  it 
is  indifpenfibly  necefiary,  that  he  prefer've  his  Chriftian  Profcftion  unblemij/yd, 
and  the  Honour  of  his  minifterial  Chara£ler    unfullied. 

He  muft  be  blamdcfs  and  harmlefs  ivithout  Rebuke,  in  the  midft  of  a  perverfe 
Generation,  andjhine  as  a  Light  in  the  World,  that  by  his  godly  Con'verjation  in 
Chrift,  he  may  glorify  his  Father  ivhich  is  in  Heaa-'en  [fj.  He  mu&  gi've  none 
Offence  in  any  Thing,  that  the  Miniftry  be  not  blamed,  but  in  all  Things  appro<ve 
himftilf  as  the  Minifier  of  God,  being  exemplary  in  all  holy  Con'verfation  and 
Godlinefs  §§.  He  muft  be  an  Example  of  the  Belie'uers  in  Word,  in  Con'verfa- 
tion, in  Charity,  in  Faith,  in  Purity  ||||. — He  muft  be  an  Example  to  his  People 
in  Word,  or  common  Difcourfe,  and  therein  endeavour  to  introduce,  and  be 
careful  to  promote  profitable  and  pious  Converfe;  not  that  which  is  light 
and  airy,  trivial  and  worthlefs,  not   at   all  adapted  to  make  Men  wifer   or 

better ; 

*  Eze.  xvin.  4,  ana  .^.  -,  ispa.  vi.  9.  v-ol.  iii.  24,  2;.  J  2  lun.  iv. 
1  and  5.  §  Matt.  xxv.  13.  Mark  xiii.  H'  55'  3^'  37-  II  *  Pet.  v.  2.  Afts 
XX.  28.  **  Rev.  iii.  23.  it  Matt.  xiii.  21;.  %%  Phil.ii.  15,  Matt.  v.  i6. 
§§2  Cor.  vi.  3,  4.  2  Pet.  iii.  11.     \\  i  Tim.  iv.  12. 


A  Funeral  SERMON.  15 

better  ;  nor  that  only  which  relates  to  the  Affairs  of  this  Life,  rrrch  Icfs  that 
which  is  defair.atcry  to  any  one,  or  injurious  to  his  real  Cliarader  and  juft 
Reputation  :  But  his  Converfe  murt  be  fuch  as  is  Suitable  to  the  Gra\ity  of 
hii  Chiiftian,  and  becoming  tlie  Dlgmty  and  Sacredntfs  of  his  ininiftcrial  Cha- 
rutur  ;  and  evidence  his  IVjind  to  be  always  imprefied  v.'ith  the  divine  Cm- 
nifcience,  and  his  own  Accountablcnefs  for  every  Part  of  his  Conduft  :  He 
may  not  at  any  Time,  nor  on  any  Occafion,  fuller  any  corrupt  or  vain  C;»;- 
nMnicution  to  proceed  out  of  kis  Msuth  ;  but  that  ivhich  is  good  to  the  Ufe  of 
edifying,  that  it  may  mir.iftcr  Grace  unto  the  Hearers  *  ;  and  his  Ccn^-oerfation 
alio  muft  be  fuch  as  becomes  the  Qofpcl  of  Chrift  f .  Therein  he  muft  exhibit 
tl;e  Beauties  of  HoHnefs  to  all  Obfervers ;  and  always  fo  deport  himfelf 
that  Mt w  may  be  IVitneffis,  and  God  alfo,  hoiv  jvfdy,  holily,  and  unbh.mec.bly 
h<-  bthwves  himfJf  %.  If  a  Miniller  of  Chriil  lives  a  carelefs,  loofe,  godlefs 
Life,  and  behaves  himfelf  unworthy  his  Chrillian  Profefiion,  and  unbecoming 
his  dignified  Station  and  facred  Character,  he  does  mofl  wickedly  betray  the 
Honoar  of  God,  and  Intereft  of  Chrift  ;  does  infinite  Mifchief  to  the  Souls 
of  Men,  expofes  Chriftia-rjity  itfelf,  and  ^^  ficrcd  Of'.ce  of  the  G:fpel  Miniftry, 
to  Contempt  and  Reproach  ;  ftumbles  the  Weak,  grieves  the  Godly,  hardens 
the  Wicked,  and  gi-ves  great  Occafion  to  the  Enemies  of  the  Lord,  to  blcfph^me 
that  iJL'orthy  Name  by  ivhich  n.ve  are  called;  expofes  himfelf  to  the  moft  dire 
Frowns,  and  revenging  Animadverfions  of  his  holy  Lord  and  righteous 
Judge,  and  may  exped  a  moft  tremendous  Cataftrophe  j  for  his  Lord  'will 
come  in  a  Day  nx^hen  he  looked  not  for  him,  and  in  anHour  that  he  is  not  aiuare  of, 
and  'will  cut  him  afunder  and  appoint  him  his  Portion  'with  the  Hypocrites,  nvhere 
is  'weeping  and  gnafhing  of  Teeth  \. 

Finally  :  A  Minifter  of  Chrift,  that  would  approve  himfelf  Faithful  in  the 
Difcharge  of  his  Office,  muft  continue  and  perfe'vere  therein  'with  mfhaken 
Rcfolution,   and  lafainting  Confiancy. 

^  No  Difcouragements  or  DifHculties,  no  Hardfhips  or  Dangers  may  take 
him  off  from  a  fervent  Profecution  of  his  Work  and  Duty  ;  neither  the 
Want  of  Succefs,  nor  Reproaches,  neither  any  worldly  Hopes  or  Fears, 
nor  any  Sufferings  of  this  prefent  Time,  muft  move  him  from,  or 
abate  his  Diligence  and  Zeal  in  his  holy  Employment  ^  but  he  mufl 
immoveably  continue  therein,  againft  all  Oppofition  from  Earth  and  Hell  ||. 
Whatever  AfHictions  or  Dangers  do  encounter  him,  he  muft  refolve  and 
be  able  to  fay  with  the  faithful  Apoftle,  That  none  of  thcfe  1  hmgs  Jhall 
mo've  me  ;  neither  count  I  my  Life  dear  unto  myfelf  fo  that  I  may  fnijh  my  Couffe 
'with  Joy,  and  the  MinifiryiK'hich  I  ha've  recei'ved  of  the  Lord  ]esvs,  to  tc  hi  ft 
the  Gofpcl  of  the  Grace  of  God  **. 

Thus  1  have  endeavoured  to  give  fome  View  of  the  true  fcriptural  Charadler 
of  3.  faithful  Minifier  ofjEsusLwRisT.      And  ftiall  proceed. 

Secondly,  To  fhew  briefly,  that  it  is  truly  Honourable  ;  and  that  faithfully  fa 
difcharge  the  Office  and  Duties  of  the  Gofpel  Minifry,  entitles  a  Man  to  true 
Honour.     And  here, 

I.   To  this  Purpofe,  I  might  infift  ttpon  the  Relation  ivhich  a  Gofpel  Minifier 

flands  in  unto  our  enthroned 5  'viour  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord,    and  fhew    that 

upon  the  Account  hereof  his  Character  is  truly  Honourable.  He  is  Chrift's  Servant, 

,    J  and 

*  Eph.  iv.  29.  +  Phil.  i.  27.  X  I  Theffa.  ii.  10.  §  Matt.  xiiv.  50,  ci. 
I  I  Tim.  IV.  16.     **  Ads  XX,  24. 


J  J,  T'he   Faithful  Minifier. 

and  the  glorious  and  exaltec^  Jesus  the  Son  of  God,  is  his  Lord  and  heavenly 
Mailer,  not  only  by  the  Profdiion  of  Chriilianity,  common  to  him  with 
oiher  LhriRians,  but  by  peculiar  folemn  Separation  and  facred  Dedication 
unto  the  i^pecial  Service  of  ChriH:,  in  perforrr.ing  Gofpel  JMiijiiliaiions  unto 
the  Children  of  iV'len,  and  ofiiciating  in  the  important  Affairs  of  his  vifible 
liinpdom  and  WorOiip  in  the  World.  Wiience  it  appears,  that  his  Station 
is  hit,h  and  facred,  his  Work  honourable,  and  his  Charadler  truly  \-enerable; 
ho v/  much  foever  it  be  defpifed,  infuked,  and  treated  v.idi  Neglect  and  Con- 
tempt by  Men  of  diflblate  Lives  ard  abandonM  Morals :  And  it  will  be 
found  another  Day,  that  our  ^reat  and  holy  Lord  rofents  all  Indignities  and 
li'juries  done  to  his.Jai.'hfid  SL-r^jants,  as  dene  to  himfelf;  and  vv ill  accord- 
ingly animadvert  upon  them,  agreeable  to  the  Word  which  l:e  hath  fpoken. 
He  that  d:fpi/cth you,  dcJl'ifcih  me  ;  a^d  him  thf-.t  dcffifcth  tn:,  dcfpijlth  him  thr.t 
Cent  ,ms  *.  I  will  further  add,  and  take  Leave  to  fay,  that  one  great  Reafon 
of  t;:e  fad  and  awful  Uiifaccefsfulncfb  of  a  preached  Gofpel  in  tiie  prefent 
Dlay,  is,  thafnot  .only  loofe  ChrilHans  and  form.al  Profcflbrs,  have  no  due 
Reverence  at  all  for  the  Oflice,  Work,  and  Adminilbations  of  the  Gofpel 
Miniilry  ;  but  even  thofe  that  are  more  ferioiis,  have  too  little  Senfe  of  the- 
divine  Original,  gracious  and  holy  Ends,  high  Importance,  and  facred  Excel- 
lency thereof.  But  I  {hall  not  further  enlarge  on  this  Head ;  for  .it  is  not 
fo  much  the  Excellency  of  the  minifcerial  Oihce,  as  Fidelity  and  Faithfulnefs 
therein,  "that  does  ennoble  and  exalt  the  Charader  of  ChriiVs  Miaifters^  and 
render  if  truly  honourable  :  For  the  Chara£ler  of  an  uvfaithfv.l  Miyiipr  of 
Chriil,  is  as  vile  and  defpicable,  natv.ithfcanding  theExcellency  and  Dignity  of 
the  Office,  as  his  who  is  F<»?V/3/;.'/ therein,  ii  honourable;  and  will  one  Day  io 
appear  in  the  Eyes  of  all  the  World,  vs'hen  lie  ihall  be  rejected  by  his  holy 
Lord  and  heavenly  judge,  with  Shame  and  everlafdng  Contempt.  Yet  is 
not  the  Oflice  the  iefs  noble  or  excellent,  and  truly  , venerable,  becaufe  of  the, 
Unfaiihfulnefs  of  any  if  thofe  Invcfled  with  it;  but  refle£is  true  Glory  on 
the  Character  of  fucli  as  faithfully  difchargc  their  i'acred  Betruilm.ent.  But  i 
the  real  Honour  hereof  wholly  depends  upon  their  Fidelity  in  their  Duty  ;  '' 
and  it  will  appear,  that  the  faithful  Performance  of  tl\e  Work  of  the  Gofpel 
Miniilry,  entitles  a  Man  to  true  Honour  ;  if  we  confider,^^ 

2.  Ihat  Fcuthfuhufi  herein  is  rcprcjlvtcd  in  tht  nmrring  V/ord  cfGod,  as  tw.Jy 

Honourallc.  ^  „..  . 

^  Gofs  Word  is  the  Truth  f,  the  facred  Elc!;idard  and  true  McrP^re  of  1  hmgs, 
by  which  we  are  to  judge  what  is  truly  Honourable  and  praiie-worthy  ;  and 
thin  in  Fidelity  in  any  im.portant  publick  Trull,  efpecially  in  that  which  hath 
xefpea  unto  the  facred  Affairs  of  God's  Ploufe,  Church,  and  Kingdom  in 
the  World,  is  pronounced  Praife-worthy,  and  commended  to  us  with  fpecial 
Marks  of'plonour.  Thus  it  is  repreiented  as  holy  iJ.w/./'s  true  and  great 
Llonour.  that  he  fliithfully' diicharged  his  regal  Trull,  ondtxicut.djudg- 
,nrtcHdjnj:icet0itQcM.  his  Pccple  %,  and  fed  them  according  to  the  Integrity, 
of  his  Heart  4  ;  that  is,  honeilly  and  faithfully.  V/hat  ingh  Llonour  is  done  in, 
hol'y  Scrinture  to  the  Name  and  Memory  oiVvfcs  the  Man  of  God  ?  With  how 
muchReipeaishe  ol^en  mentioned  in  the  iacred  Pages?  What  great  Com- 
rncndatlon  is  therein  given  him  ?  The  Sum  and  Subilance  whereof  conidls  m 
his  Fidt'i  y  o  the  holy  Truil  rcpofed  in  him  ;  for  he  ivas  Faithful  in  o.ll  God  t 
Houk  11,  and  pronounced  fo  by  the  Teftimony  of  G  od  himfelf.  He  duLrcd 
-^    ''  ^  and' 

■^*  Luke  X.    167^"^^-'"^  <^"'^'^^'!-'-  M'^*  ^'"'''^'  '7-     +  2  Sam.viiL  15.. 
J  Pfalm  h\x\iii.  -jf     \  ^'"''^•"-  ■^"-  ^ 


A  Funeral  SERMON.  15 

and  didf  or  flv!7(frf  all  Things  according  to  the  l.oly  Will  and -Appointment  of 
God,  and  did  not  with-hold  nny  Tiling  God  revealed  to  him,  nor  negledi 
the  leaft  Thing  ccnimanded  liir.i,  nor  did  he  add  any  Thing  tlicreunto  ;  in 
which  conhlled  his  I'aitlifulncfs.  1  miglit  add,  that  it  is  mentioned  to  thfc 
jull  and  high  Honour,  even  of  our  bleficd  Lord  hiiTiitlf,  that  he  tvas  Tcithfiil 
to  hitn  that  rpjcititfci  him  *.  Thus  it  appears,  that  Faithfulnefs  in  God's 
Houfe.  is  truly  Honourable,  according  to  the  unerring  "\'crdid  of  his  ov.n 
holy  Word.  And  it  will  furtlier  appear,  that  Pidelity  in  the  Difcl.arge  of 
the  GolpclMiniftry,  does  entitle  a  KJan  to  true  Honour  ;  if  we  confider, 

■3.   That  herein  he   is  rplrc<vcd  ly  God,  c;:d  accepted   cf  him,   in  ar.d  thro 
Jesus  Christ. 

T\\^finihful  Miiiiftcr  \^  iir.to  God,  a  fnxicet  Sa'vour  ofChriJl,  as  ivell  iti  them 
that  ptrip  from  under  his  Minillry,  as  in  ihe?n  that  ere  fai'ed  therehy  \. 
Tho'  Sinners  are  difchediait  ard  gain-faying  all  the  Day  lopgXy  pf  divine  Pa.i- 
cnce  towards  them  under  his  Minillry  ;  tho'  they  are  not,  there  by  .^vs/^.rrrt'  ox 
returned  to  the  Shepherd  and  Bi/hop  cf  their  Souls  §,  but  obflinately  pcrfift  in  the 
Ncgleft  of  Chrift,  and  his  great  Salivation  ||,  and  die  in  their  Sins  **  ;  Yet  ly 
his  Fidelity  he  hath  delivered  his  Soul  '\-\,  end jhell  alfo  he  ghrious  in  the  Eyes 
cf  the  Lord'lX,  and  accepted  with  his  Gcd,  who  will  not  deipife  or  rejeft  him, 
for  the  Unfuccefsfulnefs  of  his  faithful  Endeavours,  and  holy  Labours  in  the 
Miniftry  ;  but  honour  and  fmile  upon  him  in  the  Face  of  tl:e  whole  World, 
when  ailembled  before  the  Judgment  Seat  of  Chrifl ;  who  v/ill  then  fay  unto 
him.  Well  done  thou  good  atid  faithful  Sernjavt,  enter  thou  into  the  foy  of  thy 
Lord  §§.  Faithful  IViiniHers,  <v:ho  have  tuiiid  7nany  to  'Righttoufnefs^f.aUfhine 
as  the  Stars  ||j|,  yea  as  the  Sun,  in  the  Kingdom  of  their  Father  ^\  ;  and  thofe 
who  are  faved  by  their  Miniftry,  fiall  he  their  Joy  a?id  Glory,  and  Croiin  rf 
rejcyeing  in  the  Prtfnce  of  our  Lord  Jesvs  Christ  at  his  coming  j\\  :  For  thofe 
that  honour  God  by  faithful  Dii charge  of  their  Duty,  he  vsi II  honour  X\, 
and  advance  them  unto  immortal  Glory,  and  beftow  upon  them  a  Cravn  of 
Life  that  fideth  not  a-ziay  W  ;  And  then  it, will  openly  and  fully  appear,  that 
OLiY\^\  faithful Minifers  are  entitled  unto  trueHonour,  and  unp'erifhingGlory? 
and  Happinefs. — I'hus  I  have  endeavoured  to  Ihew  what  is  implied'in  the 
faithful  Difeharge  of  the  Gofpd Miniftry  ;  and  that  the  CharcMer  of  a  faithful 
Miniftcr  of  Chrift,  is  truly  Honourable :  And  fliall  proceed  to  the  Improvement 
of  this  Subjed. 

Use  L  This  Dodrine  fets  before  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel,  pcn.':erful 
Incentives  unto  unnuearicd  Aaivify,  fcdthful  Diligence,  and  zcalcus  hdifiry  in 
the  Service  of  Chrift,  and  ef  the  Souls  of  Men,  nctiviihftanding  all  the  earthly 
DifcDurage}ncnts  that  attend  them  therein  ;  hccaufe  they  hereby  voill  afurcdiy  ob- 
tain that  Honour  ivhieh  comes  frojn  God  only.  Hereby  they  are  fecure,  not 
only  of  a  prefent  Acceptance  with  their  holy  and  blcfled  Lord  ;  but  alfo  of 
that  immortal  Honour,  heavenly  Elifs,  and  the  unfading  Crown  cf  Glory 
which  he  hath  promifed  to  his  faithful  Servants  :  Chrift  hath  faid,  Where  I 
cm  there  fall  alfo  n:y  Servant  be  Jf^.  And  the  believing  Profped  hereof 
Ihall  not  only  fupport  faithful  Minifters  under  all  their  prefent  Difficulties  ; 

but 

♦  Heb.  iii.  2.  +  2  Cor.  ii.  i  5.  j;  Rom.  x.  31.  §1  Pet.  ii  25  ||  Heb. 
ii.  3.  **  John  viii.  24.  f  f  Eze.  iii.  19.  :i,J:  Ifa.  xlix.  5.  §§Matt.  xxv. 
21,23.  Jill  Dan.  xii.  3.  \\  Matt.  xiii.  43.  -|j|  i  Thcfia.  ii.  19,  20. 
X-\-  Sam.  ii.  3c.     f§  Rev.  ii.  10.     \:\X   John  xii.   26. 


1 6  ^he  Faithful  Minljter  ; 

but  alfb  animate  them  unto  unfainting  Refolution,  fervent  Zeal,  and  faithfir^ 
Diligence  in  tiieir  Work.  Chrift's  IViinifters,  if  faithful,  are  wont  to  have 
little  on  this  Side  the  Grave  to  fupport  and  encourage  them  in  their  Duty : 
Ihere  is  the  great  Difuculty  of  the  Work  itfelf,  and  lefs  or  more  unfuccefs- 
fulnefs  therein,  and  oft  Times  alfo  perverfe  ungrateful  Treatment  from  too 
many  of  whom  they  might  jullly  exped  better  Ufage.  Eut  under  all  they 
have  a  blelTed  Frolpedl  bej'ond  this  Life  ;  they  are  gracioufly  alfured  by 
Chrift,  that  if  they  overcome  their  Difficulties  and  Difcouragements,  and 
are  faithful  to  the  Ueath,  He  '^•cill  give  them  a  Crotvn  of  Life  *,  and  that  they 
Jhall fit  'vJth  him  in  his  Throne  f  :  Than  which  what  greater  Glory,  Honour, 
and  J^'elicity,  can  enter  into  the  Heart  of  mortal  Man  to  conceive  of.  How 
iinvvorthy  a  Part  therefore  do  thofs  in  the  facred  Function  a£t,  that  are  per- 
functory and  flothful  in  difcharging  the  Duties  of  it  ! 

Use  II.  From  what  has  been  difcourfed,  it  is  evident,  Th/at  Chrifs  mofi 
tender  Lo've,  and  i07ir^i'£ionate  Care  of  the  Souls  of  Men,  is  fgnc-.lly  difcovered  in 
his  infiituting  the  Gofpel  Minifr\,  and  requiring  of  thcf:  intrufed  <u)ith  it,  fuch 
Fuithjul  Diiigencc  therein,  for  the  immediate  Defign  hereof  is  to  promotCji 
and  fecure  the  fpiriiual  Weal,  higheft  and  eternal  Intereils  of  Men,  that 
hereby  they  may  be  turn  df  on  the  E-jH  wnd  Error  of  thtir  Wc^ys  to  the  J'Fifdom 
of  the  Ji'ft  J,  and  be  made  free  fro7n  the  Laiv  of  Sin  and  Death  §  by  the  Son  of 
God,  7ncide free  from  thnrffiritual  Bondi'^ge  thro""  the  Kncivhdge  of  the  Truth;  that 
they  may  he  free  indeed  }],  -and  dtlivtred  into  the  glorious  Liberty  of  the  Children  of 
God  **5  a'nd  made  -nect  to  he  Partakers  of  the  Inherit  anee  of  the  Saintsin  Light  -|-f-. 
All  which  being  the  End  and  Ui'e  of  facred  IMiniftraiions,  it  gives  us  a 
delitrhtful  and  endearing:  View  of  the  adorable  Love,  and  divine  tender  Com- 
pafiion  of  our  blelTed  Lord  towards  the  Sons  of  Men,  thereby  n  anifJlcd  ;- 
and'  fiiews  us  tiiC  bafe  and  horrid  Ingratitude  of  all  thofe  by  whom  the  Ad- 
miniilrations  and  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel  are  defpifed  and  treated  with  Con- 
tempt ai'id  Negledtl' 

LsE  III;  Hence  it  appears',-  ivhr.t  a  great  and  diff.cuh  lFo>k  that  of  a 
Gofpel  Mimficr  is ;  and  that  te  perform  it  faithfully,  is  a  'j  hirg  of  no  eafy  Attain- 
ment. The  Confideration  hereof  may  well  caufe  us  to  exclaim  in  the  Apoflle's 
Language,  U  he  is  fupeient  for  thif  Things  XX  ^  TJie  Miniiters  of  Chriil  are 
rot  fujj:cunt  of  ih.?nfl^ocs  to^hink  any  Thing  aright  in  the  Difcharge  of  their 
hoiy  Office,  as  of  themfelvcs,  or  to  rightly  perform  the  leaft  Aft  of  D.  ty 
tliCf-ein  ;  but  all  their  Supeicncy  for  it  is  of  God  §§,  by  his  Communication  of 
the  Gifis,  Graces,  and  blelled  Influences  of  the  holy  Spirit  unto  them,  'vjhere- 
hy  thy  are  mad^  able  Miniftcrs  of  the  h'L'nj.-Teftament-,  and  capable  to  perform 
facred  Miniitracions  to  the  Glory  of  God,  and  the  Ipiritoal  Advantage  of 
the  Souls  of  is'ien.  Such  is  the  Greatnefs  and  L>ifi:calty  of  their  Work,  that- 
vithout  a  conilant  and  liberal  Supply  of  tne  Spirit  of  Chriil  'jil,  and  continual 
renewed  Succour  and  AfTiilance  of  his  Grace,  they  would  certainly  faint  in 
their  Duty  ;  and  therefore  thzYfouid  v:ell  aeccpt,  and  comply  with  the^  Ex- 
hortation, to  be  frong  in  the  Grace  that  is  in  Christ  Je;  u^  \X-  }'^^  '^^  '^^  "°^ 
any  Grace  that  is  in  theraielves,  but  tiiat  oiily  wiiicii  ii  m  chrift,  that  caa 
enable  them  unto  the  faithful  Performance  of  their  Duty  ;.  They  muft  there- 
fore live  a  Life   of  Faith  on  the  never  failing  Promiie  of  Grace,  by  \s  Iiich. 

they 


*  Rev  ii.  lo.  t  Rev.  iii.  31.  X  L^I^e  i.  17-  §  Rom.viii.  2.  ![  Johit 
viiL  3-2,  and  36.  «•*  Rom.  viii.  21.  ff  Col.  i  12.  ;:{:  2  Cor.  a.  lO. 
^  :  Cor.  iii,  ;,  6.     liU  Hiil.  i.  i^.     JX  z  Tim.  u.  r. 


A  Funeral  SERMON.  17 

they  are  afTured,  that  Chrift  will  be  always  "xkh  them  *,  by  his  Spirit  to 
dnable  them  to  be  faithful  wtto  the  Death  f .  How  full  of  Support,  Comfort, 
And  Encouragement,  is  this  bleffed  Promife  of  Cliriil  to  his  faithful  JVlinifcers  ? 

Use  IV.  Since  the  Work  and  Duty  of  Chriit's  Minillers  is  fuch  as  has 
■been  defcribed,  and  Fidelity  tlierein  of  fuch  difficult  Attainment,  aiid  they 
of  themfelves  utterly  infufficient  for  it  j  htnce  it  is  apparait  thiy  ought  m'ft 
earnrftly  to  feek  to  God  and  look  to  Chrift,  implore,  a?id  htlicvingly  luait  fer  the 
rich  Communications  of  his  fff.cicnt  Grace  to  enable  them  to  Fuitbjulncfs  in  their 
Duty  :  They  mull:  bonv  their  Knees  unto  the  Father  cfourLcrd]}L?,\}s  Christ  J, 
the  Father  of  Mercies  ^,  and  God  of  all  Grace  ^,  and  ardently  ^ivrtf lie  nxith  him 
for  larger  Meajures  of  Fitnejs  for  this  Work,  arid  for  needful  Jfif.ance  unta 
their  Duty,  Acceptance,  and  Succefs  therein.  They  muft  be  affiduous  and  fer- 
vent in  retired  Addreffes  unto  Heaven,  for  perfonal  Mercies,  and  uiih 
unceafmg  Ardours  of  fecret  Devotion,  ply  thel  hrone  of  Grace  for  all  need- 
ful Supplies  of  divine  Help,  as  knowing  God  is  able  to  make  all  Grace 
abound  toward  them,  that  they  always  hailing  all  Suf^ciency  in  all  'Ihings 
•relating  to  their  Office,  may  abound  unio  ei-ery  good  Work  **,  neceiTary  to  the 
faithful  Difcharge  thereof,  And  they  mult  alio  pray  exceedingly  'Night  and 
Day  ff  for  the  People  of  their  Charge,  that  Sinners  may,  under  a  divine 
Agency,  fenfibly  and  effcftually  difcera  their  lail:  Neceffity  of  Chriil:  in  his 
All-Fulne{s,  and  fo  receive  him  by  a  true  Heart- purifying-Fai.ii,  as  to  lualk 
in  him  X\  ;  and  that  what  is  lacking  in  the  Faith,  and  other  Graces  of  Saints, 
may  be  perfc^id  ;  that  God  ivould  fulfl  all  the  good  Plerfure  of  his  Goodncfs  in 
them,  and  the  Work  of  Faith  ixith  Po^ver  §§  ;  that  they  may  fand  pcrfcS  and 
compleat  in  all  the  Will  of  God  W-  It  is  worth  obferving,  that  the  devout 
Apoftle  in  all  his  Epifdes  t«  the  Churches  (the  Care  of^hich  came  daily  upon 
him  X\)  praying  to  God  in  their  Behalf,  which  is  a  good  Pattern  worthy  of 
Imitation  by  all  Chrift's  Minifters  toward  the  People  of  their  Charge,  and 
doubtlcfs  will  be  imitated  by  all  fuch   as  imitate  him  in  his  holy  Zeal  for 

the  Chriftian  Intereft,  and  Salvation  of  immortal  Souls- And   it  is  no  lefs 

the  Duty,  aud  alfo  the  Intereft  of  the  People,  to  be  abundantly  pra>  erful 
to  God  in  Behalf  of  fuch  as  minifter  to  them  in  holy  Thin-^s,  and  have 
have  the  Care  and  Charge  of  their  Souls.  How  do  we  find'^the  inipired 
Apoftle  (who  had  fo  liberal  an  Allowance  of  the  extraordinary  Gifts,  Graces, 
and  Affiftances  of  God's  Spirit)  afking  the  Prayers  of  Chriftian  People  to  whoni 
he  wrote  ?  In  what  moft  pthetic  Terms  does  he  befeech  the  Chriftians  of 
Rome,  that  for  the  Lord  Jesvs  Christ's  fake, and  for  theLo've  of  the  Spirit,  they 
nuould  ftri've  together  ixith  him  in  their  Prayers  to  God  for  him  $|:.  And  indeed 
the  Nature  and  Defign  of  a  Minifter's  Work,  aiiord  unto  his  People  mofl: 
powerful  Perfuafives  hereunto.  Neither  can  they  exprefs  any  due  Regard  ro 
tile  Honour  and  Intereft  of  Chrift,  or  holy  Love  of  the  Spirit,  any  fuitable 
Compaffion  and  Care  for  precious  Souls,  their  own,  and  others,  or  Chriftian 
Tendemefs  for  their  Minifters,  in  the  Negleft  of  this  important  Duty.  Let 
me  further  add,  that  Minifters  had  need  not  only  be  themfelves  very  prayerful 
to  God,  and  alfo  have  the  Help  of  their  People's  Prayers ;  but  alfo  apply 
themfelves  very  clofely,  wholly,  and  indefatigably  unto  the  great  Bufinefs 
and  important  Duties  of  their  Office,  and  not  fuifer  themfelves  by  any  Means, 
to  be  diverted  or  clogg'd  therein,  if  they  ddfire  and  hope  to  give  up  *W\r 

C Account 

♦  Matt.xxviii.  20.  f  Rev.  ii.  10.  %  Eph.  viii.  14.  %  z  Cor.~i.  r. 
II  1  Pet.  v.  10,  **  2  Cor.  ix.  8.  ff  i  Theffa.  iii.  10.  U  ^-ol,  ii.  o. 
is  2  Theffa.  i.ii,    |1|  Col.iv.  12.    Jf  a  Cor.  xi.  28.    %X  Rom.xv.  30. 


I S  I'he  Faithful  Minijler  ; 

Account  with  joy  :  For  the  Labours  and  Duties  of  the  Gofpel  PJinlflry,  are- 
more  than  a  full  Employment  for  the  moll  accomplifh'd  and  laborious  of  the 
Soas  of  Men  ;  They  are  fufficient  to  employ  all  our  Powers,  Time  and 
Talents,  had  we  the  Capacities,  Agility,  and  Indefatigablenefs  of  thofe  fera- 
phic  Spirits,  that  encompafs  theThrone  of  God  above. 

And,  Oh  !  therefore,  my  reverend  Brethren,  let  us  who  have  the  Honour 
to  be  put  in  Trull  wivh  the  glorious  Gofpel  of  the  bleffed  God,  give  all 
pofiible  Diligence,  and  fpare  no  Pains  to  approve  our  felves  faithful  in  the 
Service  of  ChrilT,  and  of  the  Souls  of  Men  :  Let  us  moil  folemnly  confider 
cf  what  infinite  Importance  it  is  thus  to  do ;  Let  us  lay  deeply  to  Heart  how 
much  the  Glory  of  God,  the  Honour  and  Intereil  of  Chrii!:,  and  the  fpiritual 
Welfare  and  immortal  Happinefs  of  Men,  are  concern'd  in  our  Fidelity  :  Let 
us  earneftly  wreftle  with  God,  and  conftantly  rely  on  Chrift  for  his  AU-fuf- 
ficient  Help  and  Grace,  to  enable  us  to  be  faithful  to  him,  who  will  render 
to  us  according  to  our  Works :  Let  us  with  godiy  Remorfe  confider,  and  be. 
duly  humbled  for  all  our  pafl  Defects  and  Short-comings  in  our  Work. 
Alas  !  how  little  have  we  done  therein  for  God,  and  the  Souls  of  Man  :  Let 
us  form  and  vigoroufly  profecute  an  unfailing  Refolution  of  more  clofe, 
carneft,  and  faithful  Diligence  in  our  Duty  :  Let  us  always  be  very  mindfuL 
of  our  folemn  Charge,  facred  Vows,  and  final  Account  which  we  (hall  be 
caird  unto  before  the  judgment  Seat  of  Christ,  at  the  gi-eat  Day  cf  his 
appearing  and  Kingdom  :  Let  us  remember  -WQ-axz  Stcvjards,  and  moft  leri- 
ouily  confider,  that  it  is  indifpenfably  required  '^ffuch  to  he  faithful*  ;  and  that 
it  is  but  a  little  uncertain  Time,  before  our  great  and  holy  Lord  will  come  by 
Death,  and  fay  to  us,  you  may  no  longer  he  Stc^osards,  gi've  Jccuunt  of  your 
Stevjardjtip  J ;  ive  cannot  continue  by  Reo.fon  of  Death  %.  We  have  the  moll 
folemn  and  awful  Warning  given  us  hereof,  by  the  Death  of  our  beloved 
Brother  and  Fellow-Servant  in  the  Lord,  whofe  Obfequies  we  are  now 
attending  :  His  Removal  from  us,  is  a  very  humbling  Difpenfation  of 
Heaven  °to  the  whole  Minilby,  and  more  efpecially  to  us  in  thefe  Parts  ;. 
Hereby  very  m^uch  of  our  Strength  and  Glory  is  gone  and  departed  from  us; 
and  on  the  Account  hereof,  we  have  great  Caufe  to  adopt  that  moving  La- 
mentation of  the  mournful  Prophet,  L^;«.  v.  15,  i6,  17.  1'he  Joy  of  our  Heart 
is  cecfcd,  our  Dance  is  turned  into  Mourning,  the  Crown  is  fallen  from  our  Heads^ 
Kvoe  untJ  us  that  ^:e  ha-ve  finned  ;  for  this  our  Heart  is  faint,  for  this  our  Eye ^ 
are  dim  Does  not  the  holy  God,  by  this  heavy  Blow  of  his  provok  d  Hand, 
lift  up  his  a^vful  Voice  to  us  like  a  Trumpet  §,  and  fay  to  us  hereby,  be  ye 
faitlnul  to  the  Death  \\,  be  ye  alio  ready**.  „;  .-        ^        d    ./ 

Use.  V.  Hence  we  may  infer,  it  is  a  rich  and  great  Bhfiing,  for  a  feople 


Srcat  Lofs,  and  a   terrible   Rebuke   0;  at-otne  rro'via.?ice.      1  n^    j^uju^...v...  ... 

thefe  how  liehty  foever  efteem'd  by  the  Godlefs  and  Prophane,  is  wont^to  be 
hicrhl'y  valued  by  fuch  as  know  how  to  fet  a  due  Eftimate  on  fpixitualPriviieges: 
The  iVlinnlry,  and  faithful  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel,  are  the  Purchafe  of  the 
Death  and  Humiliation  of  Jefus  the  Son  of  God,  ^^^ho  dfcended into  the  lo^xer^ 
Tar^s  of  the  Earth  ft,  to  procure  them  for  his  People ;  the  Beilowment  hereof 
is  a  <-reat  Donation  cf  the  glorified  Saviour,  an  eminent  Fruit  of  Chriu  s  iix- 
.     »  altation^ 


»   ,  Cor.  iv.    ..       t  Lukexvi.  z.       %  Heb.   vii.  23.        §.  Ka.   Iviii-  U 
\\  Rev.  ii.  X.     ^*  Luke  xii.  40.     ft  Ep'^-  i"-  9- 


A  tuJieral  bJiKMOiN.  19 

altation,  an  illuftrious  EfFedl  of  his  mediatorial  Power  and  Acminiftration, 
and  iio-nal  Evidence  of  his  continued  Love  and  Care  toward  his  Church  on 
Earth  J  for  he  that  defcended  is  the  fame  that  alfo  afcmdcd  up  fr  abo-ue  all 
litavcniy  that  he  might  f  II  all  Things,  (that  is,  liis  Church  with  Officers,  and 
his  Officers  with  Gifts,  as  a  great  Author  expounds  it)  and ga^vc  Pflors  ancf 
*Ieachersfor  the  Work  of  the  Mimfry,  and  edifyiiig  the  Body  of  Cl.rifi  *  ;  Tliefe 
are  Means  and  Inilruments  of  delivering  finful  Men  from  the  Pcnxier  of  Durk- 
nefs,  and  tranflating  them  into  the  Kingdom  of  God'' s  dear  Son  -^-j  and  of  building 
tip  Saints,  and  gi'ving  them  an  Inheritance  among  all  them  niihich  are  fandi fife  ;J. 
<Jn  all  which  Accounts,  fuch  as  have  any  ferious  Senfe  of  Religion,  a;.id 
Concern  for  their  beft  and  immortal  Interell,  will  very  highly  efteem  them  ; 
and  the  Lofs  being  proportionably  great,  when  God  takes  away  thefe  from 
a  People,  it  is  to  be  look'd  upon  as  a  fpecial  Inflance,  and  open  Evidence,  of 
his  holy  Difpleafure  againft  them,  and  fliould  be  fuitably  refented  by  them, 
and  laid  to  Heart.  This  diredlly  leads  me  to  the  prefent  forrowful  Occafion, 
to  take  feme  iN  otice  of  the  awful  Frown  of  Heaven  upon  the  whole  Land, 
particularly  on  us  in  thefe  Parts,  more  efpecially  on  this  Congregation,  in 
the  Death  of  that  eminent  faithful  Miniiler  of  Chriil,  who  has  been  for  a 
long  Time,  a  burning  and  fhining  Eight  in  this  Candleftick,  and  a  cikin- 
guilhing  Ornament  to  this  Place.  I  have  been  confidering,  and  endeavoured 
to  give  you  fome  little  View  of  the  true  Scripture  Character  of  a  faithful 
Minijier  ©f  Jefus  Chrift  ;  therein  I  had  an  Eye  to,  and  defigned  to  reprefcnt 
fomething  of  the  Cliarader  of  that  dear  and  worthy  Servant  of  the  Lord,  who 
is  lately  taken  from  us,  to  the  Joys  and  Glories  of  the  blefled  World  above. 
And  now  is  it  not  highly  proper  and  jultly  expeftcd  from  us,  that  we 
•acknowledge  to  the  Glory  of  God,  the  Honour  and  Praife  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  (the  alone  Fountain  of  all  Excellencies  both  of  Nature  and  Grace) 
that  in  him  the  honourable  and  amaiable  Charader  of  a  faithful  Miniiler  of 
■Chrift,  was  openly  exemplified,  and  the  facred  Beauties  thereof  eminently 
■exhibited  ?  None,  unlefs  the  Ignorant  or  Ennjious  will  deny  him  this  Honour. 
But  I  (hall  not  pretend  to  allay  his  finifh'd  Charadter,  being  confcious  to 
myfelf  of  my  utter  Inability  to  do  Juftice  to  it  ;  and  that  I  am  wholly  un- 
equal to  fuch  a  Province  ;  And  indeed,  who  can  pretend  to  be  equal  to  it, 
but  he  who  is  equal  to  him  in  his  uncommon  fuperior  Accomplifliraents.  I 
fhall  therefore  only  obferve  to  you,  a  few  Things  (among  the  many  that 
might  be  truly  fpoken)  concerning  him,  which  may  help  to  affed  all  our 
Hearts,  with  fome  juft  and  fuitable  Senfe  of  this  humbling  Providence  toward 
us  in  our  great  and  heavy  Bereavement.  To  this  PurpoJe  let  us  duly  confider 
how  great,  publick,  and  general  a  Lofs  is  fuftained  in  his  Death  ;  an  un- 
fpeakable  Lofs  not  only  to  this  Congregation,  but  which  extends  to  all  the 
Land  ;  for  his  Praife  in  the  GofpcJ  was  throughout  all  the  Churches  therein. 
—■--Now,  this  is  cafily  to  be  apprehended  from  a  little  Confidcration  of  his 
eminent  and  uncommon  Capacities,  Improvements,  and  Uftfulnefs  in  the 
World:  He  was  confpicuojfly  polfeiTed  of  thofe  natural  and  acquired,  moral 
and  fpiritual  Endowments,  which  conftitute  and  adorn  the  Charatier  of  a 
truly  cxcelhnt  and  'valuable  Man,  an  uncommon  Scholar,  an  eminent  Divine, 
and  a  ferious  devout  Chrifiian.  The  great  Author  of  Nature  was  \<:\y 
tountiful  to  him,  in  bellowing  upon  him  with  a  liberal  Hand,  thofe 
intelledual  Powers   that  were  far  above  the  common  Level  :  He  was  blefs'd 

uith 


Eph.  iv.  10, 1 1,  12.     f  v_ol.  i.  I  j.     X  Acts  xx.  32. 


.20  The  Faithful  Mimjter. 

with  a  very  fuperior   and  elevated   Genius  :  His   Apprehenfion  was  quick 
and  penetrating  ;  His  Thought  ready  and  deep  ;  His  Judgment  folid  ;  His 
Memory  attentive  and  faithful  :  He  had  a  wonderful  Capacity,  on  a  fudden, 
to  form  a  due  fagacious  Judgment  of  Things  ;  and  hence  was  a  ready,  wife, 
and  able  Counfellor  ;  and  his  natural  Endowments  were  greatly  enrich'd  and 
adorn'd  hy  large  Improvements :  His  Attainments  in  valuable  Learning,  and 
ufeful  Knowledge,  were   great  and  diilingaifhing  :  He  made  no   ordinary 
Figure   in   the  learned  World,  and   was  no  Stranger  to  the  moft   celebrated 
Authors  therein  :  But  Divinity  was  his  favourite  Study,  to  whickhe  more 
peculiarly    applied   himfelf;  and  in  the  Knowledge  thereof,  he  excelled  to 
no  common  Degree  ;  and  was  particularly  and  diilinguifningly  acquainted  with 
the   more  abllrufe  and  difficult  Parts  of  that   divine  and  facred  Science  j  a 
Specimen  whereof,  he  has  given  us  in  his  accurate  Writings  on  fome  of  them  : 
He  had  uncommonly  clear  Views  of  the  Scripture  Syftem  of  Gofpel  Dodlrine, 
and  glorious  Scheme  andDefign  of  divine  Revelation  ;  had  a  Body  of  Divi- 
nity treafured  up  in  his  Mind,  and  was  very  careful  to  hold  fafl.  the  Form  of 
found  Words  in  the  prefent  dark  Day,  in  which  many  corrupt  Opinions,  and 
Soul  deftroying  Errors,  do  fo   much  prevail  and  abound  in  the  Proteftant 
World,  and  even  in  this  Land  ;  And  he  fhewed  a   warm  Zeal  in  the  Caufe 
©f  Truth  :  He  W£S^  very  communicative  of  his  Knowledge  to  orhers,  and 
peculiarly  happy  and   fkilful  in    imparting  his   Thoughts  :  His  Stile  and 
Ditllion  was  corredl,  mafculine,  arxd  nervous :  He  had  a  remarkable  Capacity 
to  treat  of  Things  with  a  comprehenfive  Succindnefs,  and  perfpicuous  Brevity, 
and  to  confirm  Truths  by  irrefragable  Arguments,  and  fet  them  in  a  clear  and 
advantageous  Light.     In  Controverfy  his  Dexterity  was  of  fuch   remarkable 
En  inence;  his  Strength  and  Courage  fo  peculiar  and  diftinguifliing,  as  to  be 
obferA  e  1  and  acknov/Iedged  by  all ;    therein  he  was  Second  to  few  or  none  : 
And   hi3  his  great   and  happy  Talent  he  has  often  feafonably  employed  to 
good  Purpofes,    in  refuting  pernicious  Errors,  (boldly  vented  and  plaufibly 
tivulged)  and  in  defending  and  eflablifliing  important  labouring  Truths  of 
the  Gofpel ;  for  the  Defence  whereof,  he  was  well  qualified  by  a  clear  cool 
Thought,    and  uawavering  Principle  ;  and  has  frequently   put  Gain-fayers 
to  Confuiion  and  Silence:  And  yet  he  was  not  of  a  litigious  Difpofition,  but 
a  truly  pacific  Temper,  and  could  facrifice  any  Thing  but  Truth  and  Duty 
for  Peace  :    He  much,  excelled  ia  textual  Divinity  ;  ivas  mighty  in  the  holy 
Scriptures,  well  furnilli'd  with  fuch  Knowledge  of  them  as  enabled  him  to 
clearly  give  the  right  and  true  Senfe  of  them,  and  adorn  his  Difcourfes  with 
the  facred  Language,  and  illuftrate  and  confirm  hisDoftrines  by  the  Authority 
of  God's  Word  :  His  deep  and  ready  Penetration  into  difficult  ajid  perplext 
Cafes,  and  Dexterity  in  judicioufly  and   fafely  refolving  them,  gave  him  a 
juft  Claim  to  the  Charader  of  a  good  Cafuiil.     By  thefe  his  excellent  Accom- 
plKhments  he  was  render'd  very  capable  to  direft  and  affillycungerMinirters,. 
and  was  often  repaired  to  by  them,  who  always   found  him  their  faithful 
Fiiend  and  Counfellor,  able  and  ready  to  do  them  Service  y  and  he  ever  ap- 
peared afFeftionate  to  their  Perfons,  and  tender  of  their  Reputations;    and 
they  will  doubtlefs  find   their   great  Lofs  in  his   Removal..    Such  were  his 
erament  Attainments  in  ufcful  Literature,  that  he  was  well  frnvUhed  for  the 
liberal  Education  of  Youth,  and  preparing  young  Perfons  for  the  Service  of 
theSarrftuary  ;  and  herein  Death  found  him  employed,  ia  ConuinfUon  with. 
Jik  minifteriai  Work  ;  and  ou  this  Account,  our  hoih  thereiii  is  the  more  to^ 
fee  laEieatscL  .    , 


A  Funeral  SERMON.  ^i 

And  as  he  was  eminently  adorn'd  with  the  Gifts,  (o  likewife  with  th# 
Graces  of  God's  Spirit  ;  and  hereby  his  Gifts  appeared  the  brighter,  and 
became  the  more  ufeful.  In  him  was  confpicuoufly  exhibited,  the  amiable 
Character  given  us  by  the  Apoftle,  of  a  Steward  of  God  nuho  muft  be  blamelefs^ 
not  felf-iuiU^ di  not  foon  angry,  not  given  to  Wine,  no  Striker,  not  gi'ven  to  Jllthf 
Lucre,  a  Lover  of  Hofpitality,  a  Leaver  of  good  Men,  fober,  juji,  holy,  temper  at  Cy 
balding  faji  the  faithful  Word,  as  he  has  been  taught,  and  able  by  found  Do£lrine, 
both  to  exhort  and  csn'vince  Gain-fayers  *.  He  was  very  careful  to  gi've  n» 
Offence  in  any  Thing,  that  the  Minijiry  might  not  be  blamed  -}-.  He  excelled 
in  Self-Government,  nvas  JIoiv  to  Anger,  knenjj  how  to  rule  his  Spirit  J  j  had 
a  great  Command  of  his  Appetites  and  Paffions  ;  was  exemplary  in  Self- 
denial,  Separation  from  the  World,  and  Contempt  of  it  ;  did  not  purfue  the 
Delights  or  Splendors  thereof,  nor  feek  great  Things  forhimfelf§  :  He  bore 
Reproaches  from  Men,  and  their  unreafonable  Cenfures  and  injurious  Treat- 
ment, with  Chriftian  Meeknefs  ;  was  not  cvercome  of  E'uil,  but  endeavoured 
to  o-vercome  their  EtjU  ivifh  Good  1| ;  He  was  of  a  very  generous  Difpofition, 
much  given  to  Hofpitality  **,  ivilling  to  communicate  ■\-\,  and  ready  to  every 
good  Work  XX'  He  embraced  all  Opportunities  to  do  good  to  Men,  in  regard 
to  their  Souls  and  Bodies,  their  fpiritual  and  temporal  Interefts :  His  Chriftiaa 
Equanimity  of  Mind  was  remarkable  ;  Under  all  his  heavy  Affliftions  from 
the  holy  Hand  of  a  wife  fovereign  God,  and  many  Difficulties  of  his  weary 
Pilgrimage,  he  ever  appeared  in  a  quiet  Suhjedion  to  the  Father  of  Spirits  §§, 
and  in  his  Patience  pojfefd  his  Soul  {|^  :  In.  a  Day  of  Profperity  he  rejoyced  with 
trembling;  and  in  a  Day  of  A6.\'tviity,  he  ivifily  conjiderd  ^J,  and  did  not 
faint  therein,  becaufe  his  Stre7igth  imas  not  fmall  jj-f-.  He  was  in  Behaviour. 
as  becometh  Holinefs  f  J^  and  thereby  no  fmall  Ornament  to  his  Profeffion. 
He  went  before  his  Flock  in  a  blamelefs  exemplary  Life,  as  became  a  good 
Shepherd  ^\\.  Thus  by  a  happy  Concurrence  of  minifterial  Gifts  and  Chriftiaa 
Graces,  he  was  eminently  qualified  for  the  right  Difcharge  of  his  holy  Office; 
and  with  what  Prudence,  Skilfulnefs,  and  faithful  Diligence  he  attended  unto 
the  Duties  of  his  paftoral  Care,  you  have  been  Witneffes.  In  his  Miniftry  he 
Ihewed  an  holy  Zeal  for  the  Honour  and  Intereft  of  his  great  and  blefled 
Mafter,  and  a  ferious  Concern  for  the  Welfare  of  immortal  Souls  :  A  religious 
Solemnity,  and  peculiar  facred  Gravity,  always  appeared  in  his  holy  Mini- 
ftrations  :  The  favourite  Subjects  of  his  public  Difcourfes,  were  the  weightier 
and  more  important  Matters  of  Religion,  and  they  were  well  calculated  to 
be  ufeful  to  the  Souls  of  Men,  and  make  them  wifer  and  better :  He  greatly 
inculcated  the  abfoluteNeceffity  of  a  faving  Intereft:  in  Chrift,  by  a  true  Heart- 
purifying  Faith  in  him,  wrought  in  the  Souls  of  Men,  by  the  renewing  Influ- 
cncies  of  God's  Spirit ;  and  of  that  Holinefs  of  Heart  and  Life  viithout  vchich 

none  can  fee  Qod  J*. And  as  he  obtained  Mercy  of  the  Lord  to  be  faithful  |[*lj, 

fb  likewife  in  fome  Degree  fuccefsful :  How  many  have  been  led  to  Heavea 
and  Happinefs  by  his  Mmiftry,  God  beft  knows,  and  alfo  how  many  now 
in  this  Afl'cmbly  have  been  favingly  converted  to  God  thereby  ;  who  will  b« 
his  Rejoycing  in  the  Day  of  Chrift ;    He  had  a  great  and  kind  Regard  for 

thi« 

Tit.  i.  7,  8,  9.       \  z  Cor.  vi.  4.       J  Prov.  xvi;  32.        ^  Jer.  xlv.  5. 
8  Rom.  xii.  21,     »*   i  Tim.  iii.  2.       ff   \  Tim,  vi.  18.       XX  Tit-  iii-  1=. 
4<Heb.  xii.  9.     Ilif  Lukex.xi.  ig.     §J  Ecciefi.  vii.  14.     ||f  Prov.  xxiv.  10^. 
t+  Ti;.  ii,  3.     fil  Johw  x,  iv.    %*  Heb.  xii.  1:4.  Mate.  v.  %v  \*\  \  Cor.vii.2^ 


^2  ^he  Faithful  Minijier, 

this  Flock  of  God  ;  fo  that,  being  affectionately  dejirous  of  you,  he  nvas  ivilUng 
to  ha-ve  imparted  to  you,  not  only  the  Gofptl  of  God,  but  alfo  his  o-xn  Soul,  becaufg 
you  iKiere  dear  unto  him  *  ;  And  he  was  diligent  in  feeding  you  with  Know- 
ledge a/tdUnderJianding,  as  became  a  Pallor  according  to  God's  onvn  Heart  -f-,  and 
he  guided  you  by  the  Skilfulnefs  of  his  Hands  J,  and  defended  you  on  e'very  Side, 
and  now  is  gone  to  receive  the  Reward  of  all  his  holy  Labouis,  from  the 
liberal  and  gracious  Hand  of  the  great  and  chief  Shephard,  who  at  his  ap- 
pearing avd  Kingdom,  will  undoubtedly  bejionu  upon  him,  a  Cro^ucn  of  Life  and 
Glory,  -which  fades  not  a^'ay  §.  And  Ihould  you  not,  mod  ferioufly  confidcr 
this  bereaving  Operation  of  God's  holy  Hands  towards  you  ||  :  This  Removal 
is  indeed  an  awful  Frown  upon  a  finning  Generation  in  the  Land,  to  which 
he  was  many  Ways  a  great  Bleffing  ;  but  in  a  peculiar  Manner  is  this  heavy- 
Blow  from  Heaven  to  be  duly  refented  by  this  Congregation,  and  improved 
to  awaken  you  to  a  ferious,  timely  deep,  and  godly  Repentance  j  to  fearch 
end  try  your  Ways,  and  unfigncdly  turn  unto  him,  who  has  thus  terribly  fmitten 
you  ;  and  feek  the  Lord  of  Holls  nxjhile  he  is  to  be  found,  that  his  Anger  may 
be  turned  a-way  from  you,  and  his  anxjful  Hand  not  be  fxretched  out  fill  ** ,  left 
Godjiir  up  again  ft  you  all  his  Wrath  ■\^,  and  take  his  Kingdom  (or  a  preached 
Gofpel)  fro?n  you  XX,  and  remonje  your  Candleftick  out  of  his  Place,  except  you 
-repent  ^^.  Repent  therefore,  and  turn  yourfel'ves  from  all  your  TrnnfgrcJ/jonSy 
that  Iniquity  may  not  be  your  Ruin  ||||.  In  this  awful  Providence  toward  you, 
God's  Voice  cries  §J  aloud  to  deaf  dead-hear. ed  Sinners  among  you,  who  are 
going  on  fill  in  yorr  Trifpaffes  W,  and  continue  quiet  and  eafy  in  their  Soul- 
deftroying  Unregeneracy  of"Htart,  and  are  not  reform'd  in  Life,  nor  alarm'd 
out  of  their  carnal  Security,  by  all  the  folemn  Admonitions  given  them  by 
this  faithful  Servant  of  God,  who  was  a  Son  of  Thunder  to  hardned  carelefs 
Sinners,  and  fkilful  in  fetting  the  Terrors  of  the  Lord  before  them,  and  has 
-often  nioarned you  to  fee  from  the  Wrath  to  come.  And  do  you  ftill  perfift  in 
your  Sins,  and  carelefs  NegleSi  of  the  great  Sahation  ;  remain  at  Eafe  in 
Zion  :l:f ,  and  cry  Peace  and  Safety  to  yourfelves,  'u;hen  fudden  DeftruSdon  is 
ready  to  come  upon  you  \^  ?  Oh  !  aivr.ke  out  of  Sleep,  arife  from  the  Dead,  that 
Chrift  may  gi've you  Light  \\X,  left  the  holy  God,  who  hath  already  called  away 
from  you  his  Ambaflador,  fnj.-ear  in  his  Wrath  againft  you,  that  his  Spirit 
pall  no  longer  ftri've  ii-ith you  *§  ;  and  leave  you  fealed  up  under  Hardnefs 
of  Heart,  unto  the  Judgment  of  the  great  Day. 

And  let  carelefs  flothful  Profefibrs  be  roufed  up  by  this  awakening  Difpen- 
fation  of  Heaven,  to  feek  in  carneft  the  Oyl  of  Grace  in  your  Hearts,  and 
no  longer  content  yourfelves  with  Lamps  of  lifelefs,  lazy,  barren  Profeffion  ; 
left,  wlien  our  great  Lord,  the  heavenly  Bridegroom  of  the  Church,  high  and 
eternal  Jud^e  of  the  World,  fhall  come,  your  Lamps  go  out  in  oh/cure  Darknefs 
1*.  And  let  all  God's  People  fee  to  it,  that  you  be  not  flothful,  but  Folloivcrs 
of  them  nvho  thro'  Faith  and  Patience  inherit  the  Promifes  *f ,  and  lay  aftde 
every  •weight,  and  the  Sin  that  eafily  befets  you,  and  run  nvith  Patience  the  Race 
that  is  fet  before  us,  ftill  looking  to  the  great  Author  and  Finijher  of  our  Faith  ||*  : 
take  heed  to  yourfelves  that  your  Hearts  be  not  owrcharged  with  the  Cares  of  this 
Life,  andfo  that  Day  come  upon  you  unawares  1|*||  j  but  <watch  and  pray  always^ 


that 


*  I  Thefi:  ii.  8.  f  Jer- iii-  15.  X  ^i^-  l-^^vni.  72.  §  i  Pet.  v.  iv. 
il  Pfa.  xxviii.  4.  **  Ifa.  ix.  M,  17.  +t  Pfal.  Ixxviii.  38.  JJ  Matt,  xxi.43, 
§§  Rev.  ii.  5.  nil  Ezek.  xviii.  30.  §t  Mic.  vi.  9.  fl  Pfa.  Ixviii.  21. 
+t  Amos  vi.  I.  t§  I  TheiTa.  v.  3.  ||t  Eph.  v.  14.  *§  Gen.  vi.  3-, 
4;*  Prov.  XX.  so.     *f  Heb.  Yi.42.    jj*  Heb.  xii.  i  ,2.    [j*l|  Lukexxi,34. 


A  Funeral    SERMON.  f  5 

that  you  efcape  all  the  dire  Deftrudions  that  are  haftning  on  a  fecure  infidel 
World,  and  ft  and  before  the  Sun  of  Man  with  Joy  and  Triumph,  ot/j^n  he  pall 
come  in  the  Glory  of  his  Father,  nvith  his  holy  Jtigels,  and  reiuard  every  Matt 
acccrdiKg  to  his  Works  *. 

Use  VI.  The  prefent  "Do^nwQ  affords  Matter  of  ftrong  Confolaticn  to  ut 
under  cur  Bercawmcfit  of  Chrifi's  faithful Minifters  by  their  Death.  Therein  it 
is  true  cur  Lofs  is  exceeding  great,  and  thereby  the  divine  Anger  is  awfully 
manilerted  againft  us  ;  It  will  therefore  bring  us  under  the  juitCenfure  and 
fcvere  Rebuke  of  God's  holy  Word,  if  we  do  not  lay  it  deeply  to  Heart  \r 
and  are  not  fuitably  grieved  n.vhen  nve  are  thus  ftrickcn  by  him  %  ;  but  we  are 
not  to  ixjctp  for  them,  but  for-  ourfl-vcs  and  for  our  Children  §  ;  for  to  them  to 
live  ivas  Chrift,  and  therefore  to  die  vuas  infinite  Gain  \  ;  They  have  fini^ed 
their  Courjs  and  their  Miniftry  **,  and  are  entered  into  the  Joy  of  their  Lcrd\\ ; 
And  why  fhould  we  weep  or  grieve  for  them  ?  they  have  overcome,  and  are 
admitted  to  fit  vjitb  Chrift  in  his  Throne  Hi  and  ftiall  we  mourn  for  their 
heavenly  Honour  and  glorious  Advancement  ? 

Let  then  the  believing  Confideration  of  the  State  of  future  Glory  and 
Kappinefs,  w\{ic\i  Chrift' s  faithful  Minifters  are  received  into  at  Death,  mitigate 
our  Sorrow  for  the  Death  of  this  deceafed  Servant  of  the  Lord.  Let  it  relieve 
and  fupport  our  grieved  Spirits,  that  novo  he  is  abfent  fro?n  the  Body  he  is 
p-cfcnt  ^vich  the  Lord  §§  /o  behold  his  Glory,  and  partake  in  his  Joy  ;  that  he 
is  gone  to  be  ^mth  Chrift,  -which  is  far  hettef  \\  for  him,  than  being  with  us 
in  this  World  of  Sin  and  Sorrow,  vjhere  vje  ourflvcs  groan  v:ithin  ourfelves  §]!, 
being  burthened  while  in  this  Tabernacle,  defiring  to  be  cloathed  upon  nvith  our 
Houfe  vohich  is  fro?n  Heaven  ■\^.  Let  this  Word  of  Comfort  be  applied  in 
particular  to  the  mournful  Relidl,  and  Children  of  the  deceafed  Servant  of 
God.  Let  the  realizing  Thoughts  of  the  happy  State  he  is  gone  to, -give 
fome  Allay  to  your  Grief,  and  fupport  your  Spirits  under  this  heavy  Stroke 
of  your  heavenly  Father's  Hand.  Let  your  Sorrow  be  turn'd  into,  and  run 
in  the  right  Channel  :  Take  heed  that  it  be  not  the  Sorrovj  of  the  World  that 
vjorks  Diath,  but  that  godly  Scrroiu  v:hich  ivorketh  Repentance  to  Salva- 
tion not  to  be  repented  of  J||,  that  you  may  receive  no  Da?nage  to  your  fpiritual 
Interells  hereby  ;  but  on  the  Contrary  that  you  may  happily  find,  that  even 
this  great  Afflidion  works  for  your  bell  Good,  that  you  may  hereby  have 
frefli  and  fuller  Evidence  x.\\?iX.you  love  God,  and  are  the  Called  according  t» 
his  Purpofe  Hf.  May  the  God  of  all  Grace  and  Confolation,  fupport  and 
comfort  his  Handmaid  in  her  affli£live  Widow-hood  !  May  the  everlafting 
Arms  be  underntath  her  *'\,  and  the  eternal  God  her  Refuge  in  this  Day  cf 
Aftiittion  %X,  and  the  Strength  of  her  Heart  and  her  Portion  for  ever  §*.  May 
the  Children  have  their  Father's  God,  for  their  God  and  Father  in  Chrift, 
and  their  Guide  to  Death  *%  :  May  the  Lord  their  Redeemer,  and  their  God,  teach 
them  to  fpiritually  profit  by  this  Providence,  and  lead  them  in  the  Way  (of 
humble,  quiet,  penitent  Submiflion)  voherein  they  ft^ould go  *||  under  it.  And 
may  we  all  be  prepared  and  duly  preparing  for  Death  and  Eternity,  unto 
which  vvc  are  hallning  every  Moment !  Let 

*  Matt.  xvi.  27.  f  Ifa.  xlii.  25.  tjer.v.  3.  §  Luke xxiii,  28.  U  Phil. 
i.  21.  **  Adlsxxviii.  24.  ff  Mat.  xxv.  2 1 .  J|  Rev.  iii.  ai.  §§  2  Cor. 
V.  8.  nil  Phil.  i.  23.  y  Rom.  viii.  23.  f  §  z  Cor.  iv.  2,  4.  J||  2  Cor- 
vii.  9.  10.  lit  Rom.  viii.  28.  *t  Deut.  xxxiii.  27-  §"{:  Jcr.  %\\,  19- 
i*  Pfa.  Ixxiii.  26.       *:^  Pfa.xIviiLi^.     *H  lia.  xlviii.  17. 


24  ^'he  Faithful  Minijler  j  &c. 

Let  us  endeavour  thro'  Grace  to  follow  this  Servant  of  God,  nvherein  ht 
fglloiud Chrift,  until  we  alfo  come  to  inherit  the  Promi/es  luhich  are  exceeding 
great  and  precious  *. 

Let  us  give  all  Diligence  to  be  found  of  our  Lord  in  Peace,  ivithout  Spot, 
tind  hlamelefs,  accounting  that  his  Long-fuffering  to'ward  us,  is  Sal'vation  -f-,  that 
fwhen  hejhall  appear  ive  may  have  Confidence,  and  not  be  ajhamed  before  him  at 
his  Coming  %  :  Unto  him  be  Glory  in  the  Church  throughout  all  Agesy  World 
'Hvithout  End.     Amen  %. 


*  aPet.  i.  4.    t  zPet.  iii.  J4,  15.     %  i  John  ii.  28.     \  Eph.  iii.  21. 


The  Faithful  Minister  Encouraged. 


S    E    R    M    O    N. 

Preached  at  the  Openhig  of  the  STNO  Z)  of 
of  New-York,  met  at  Thiladelphia^  Otto- 
her  I.    1755. 

■m'  -^  -^ 

By  James  Davenport,  A.  M.  late  Mini  Iter 

of  the  Gofpel  at  Southwoldy  on  Long-Ijland^ 

now  at  Hope^cU^  in  Newjerfey. 

» 

TubliJJjed at  the  Reque/i  qffome  ojthe  Hearers. 


Col.  iv.   17.  And  fay  to  Archippus,  Take  heed  to  the  Minijify 

which  thou  hafl  received  in  the  Lord^  that  thou  fulfil  it. 
I  TiM.iv.  16.  Take  heed  unto  thy  Self  and  unt9  thy  DoBrine  : 

Continue  in  them  :  For  in  doing  this,  thoiifloalt  both  fave  thy 

Self  and  them  that  hear  thee. 
I  Pet.  V.  4.     And  when  the  Chief  Shepherd f}:all  appear^  ye 

fhall  receive  a  Crown  of  Glory ,  that  fade th  not  away, 

THILA'DELTHIA  ; 

Printed  by  fames  Chattin,  at  the  Neweft-Printing-Office,  on 
the  South  Side  of  the  Jerfey  Market.     1756. 


♦ 


(     iii     ) 


PREFACE. 


CandiJ  READER, 

1"^  HE  following  Sermon  needs  no  Commendation.  The 
.  Truth  y  Weight  and  Seafonabknefs  of  its  Matter^  the  So- 
briety  of  its  Stile  ^  the'  Mo  defy  of  its  Addrefs^  together  with  the 
Spirit  of  Piety,  of  Humility^  cf  undifguifed  Zeal  for  God^  atid 
affe^ionate  Love  to  Man,  which  breathes  in  every  Part,  and 
animates  the  Whole,  will  commend  it  to  the  Confciences  of  all 
that  fear  God,  who  have  the  Pleafiire  of  ferufing  it.  He7'e  are 
no  high  founding  Words  of  Vanity,  or  little  Artifces  to  exalt  him- 
felf  afid  catch  a  vidgar  Applaufe  -,  but  an  honeft,  ferious  En- 
deavour to  honor  Gcd,    and  do  good  to  Mankind. Let  not 

the  pious  Author  be  offended  with  our  Freedom,  in  faying,  that 
his  Life  adds  Weight  to  this  Difcourfe  ;  for  the  Latter  is  but  a 
Copy  of  the  Former :  Nor  flmdd  it  be  forgotten,  that  the  gracious 
God,  who  delights  to  honor  the  Humble  and  Sincere  in  Heart, 
gave  manifeji  Tokens  of  his  fpecial  Prefence,  whenthis  Lhfcouife 
wat  delivereil :  Not  only  the  Speaker,  but  divers  of  the  Hearers, 
both  Miiiifters  and  People,    being folenuily  affedled  a?d  tenderly 

touched   with  the  precious  Truths  therein  contained. May 

God,  of  his  infinite  Mercy,  keep  thefe  Things  in  the  Imagi?2ation 
of  the  Thoughts  of  our  Hearts,  and  enable  us  to  adl  accordingly  : 

A  2  May 


(    iv    ) 

May  we,  efpecially  who  are  of  the  Sacred  Order  ^  obtain  Mercy 
to  befaithfuly  as  well  as  prude7it  and  humble  unto  Death. 

^here  is  nothing  of  greater  Confequence  to  the  Weal  of  the 
Churches^  than  taking  due  Care  refpeBing  the  Admijjion  ofCan^ 
didates  into  the  Miniftry.  If  we  are  lax  in  this^  and  eafily  in^ 
troduce  Perfons  who  have  no  poftive  Evidences  of  vital  Godli^ 
jjefs  }  Error  will  come  in  as  a  Floods  and  inundate 
the  Churches  ;  experimental  Piety  gradually  languifi^  and  at 
laji  totally  expire  :  To  prevent  which  awful  Events,   ftiay  Al- 

mighty  GOD  blefs  the  following  Difcourfe. We  add  no 

more,  but  remain  thy  Servants  for  C  HRI  ST'  s  Sake. 

Philadelphia,  Nov,  GILBERT  TE NNE NT, 

17.  1755.  RICHARD  TREAT. 


<«0 


The 


L    5     J 


The  Faithful  Minister  Encouraged  : 

A 

SERMON,     &c. 


2  Corinth,  iv.  i.     Therefore  feeing  we  have  this  MimJIry, 
as  we  have  received  Mercy,   use  faint  not, 

TH  E  Difpenfation  of  the  Golpel  of  Jefus  Chrifl, 
Men,  Brethren  and  Fathers,    in  feveral  important 
refpeds,  far  excels  in  Glory  the  Mofaic  Difpenfa- 
tion.     This  the  Apoftle  had  obferved  and  clearly 
proved  in  the  preceding  Chapter,  and  from  thence  draws 
the  juft  Conclufion  in  our  Text,  User ef ore  feeing  we  have  this 
Minijiry,  as  we  have  received  Mercy,  we  faint  twt. 
Here  we  may  obferve  feveral  Things. 

1.  We  have  the  Gofpel  Miniftry  refer 'd  to,  call'd,  This 
Minijiry, 

2.  Here  are  fome  engag'd  in  this  Work  :  We  have  this 
Minijiry.     They  are  put  in  Truft  with  the  Gofpel  (^). 

3.  This  is  to  be  acknowledged  as  a  Mercy  from  God  ; 
As  we  have  received  Mercy,  Some  Expofitors  chufe  to 
join  this  Sentence  with  the  lafl  Claufe,  thus  5  as  we  have  re^ 
ceived  Mercy,  we  faint  not, 

Thefc 
a  I  Thef  ii.  4, 


6  ThefcdthJulMinlO^r 

Thefe  underftood  the  Mercy  here  intended,  to  be,  that  of 
Miniflers  being  kept  from  fainting  under  their  Trials. 

Others  join  the  two  iirft  Sentences  in  our  Text  together 
thus,  Therefore  feeing  we  have  this  Mi7iiftr)\  as  we  have  re- 
ceived Mercy.  They  conceive  the  Mercy  here  fpoken  of  is 
that  of  being  call'd  and  empley'd  in  the  facred  Work.  Be- 
zas  Jndgment  in  particular  is  mentioned  in  the  Continuati- 
on of  Poo/es  Annotations,  in  thefe  Words  ;  "  The  Tradu- 
**  cers  of  this  great  Apoftle  took  Advantage  from  his  great 
*'  Trials  and  Affli6tions,  by  reafon  of  them,  to  conclude 
*^  him  no  fuch  Man,  as  he  was  by  fome  reprefented  ;  and 
*'  the  Apoflle  upon  that  takes  Advantage  to  magnify  his  Office. 
*'  God  (fai^h  he)  having  intrufted  us  with  fo  glorious  a  Mini- 
"  flration,  as  I  have  proved  that  of  the  Gofpel  to  be,  according 
"  to  the  Meafure  and  Proportion  of  Gifts  and  Graces, 
*'  which  God  hath  beflowed  upon  us,  or  by  reafon  of 
*'  that  infinite  Grace  and  Mercy,  which  God  hath 
*'  jfhewed  us,  in  calling  us  to  fo  honorable  a  Station  and  Of- 
**  fice,  though  we  meet  with  many  Adverfaries,  many  Af- 
^^  flidtions,  many  Difficulties,  yet  we  bear  up,  and  fink  not 
*'  uader  them,  nor  faint  in  our  Spirits  becaufe  of  them." 

Thus  far  he.  Jn  this  Senfe  I  propofe  to  confider  the 
Words  of  our  Text. 

4.  We  may  obferve,  that  great  Difficulties  muft  be  ex- 
pCi^ed  in  the  Work  of  the  Go^^el  Miniflry,  or  there  would 
be  no  Danger  oi  Fainting. 

Again,  that  we  ought  not  to  faint  under  thefe  Difficulties 
and  Trials,  but  (liould  be  able  to  fay,  through  Grace,  with 
the  Apoftle,  we  faint  not. 

And  further,  that  an  excellent  Argument  againfl;  Tainting 
in  thic  Work,  may  be  drawn  from  the  Gofpel  Miniffy  it- 
felf,  ?iid  the  feveral  Motives,  that  relate  to  it.     Therefore 
feeing  we  have  this  Minijhy^  we  faint  not* 

Laftly, 


Encouragedy  ^c.  7 

•  Laftlyy  That  faithful  Miniflers  are  kept  from  Fainting^  by 
thefe  precious  Truths  and  Motives  fet  home  with  divine  Pow- 
er on  their  Souls  ;  hence  they  can  fay  with  the  Apoflle,  We 
faint  not ;  otherwile  we  fliould  iwx^Xy  faint , 

I  might  comprize  thefe  important  Obfervations  in  a  gene- 
ral One,  and  lay  it  down  as  the  Foundation  of  the  prefent 
Difcourfe  ;  but  as  that  would  open  too  lai-ge  a  Field  for 
this  Opportunity,  I  (hall  cofijine  myfelf  to  the  Conlideration 
and  Improvement  of  thefe  two  Things,  viz.  The  Mercy  of 
being  call'd  to  the  Work  of  the  Gofpel  Miniftry,  and  fome 
of  the  Reafons  and  Argumejits  which  are  adapted  to  guard  a- 
gainft  extreme  Difcouragements,  and  to  excite  to  adtive  and 
perfevering  Diligence  and  Faithfulnefs  in  the  Work. 

And  here  I  would  humbly  and  earneftly  intreat  my  reve- 
rend Fathers  and  Brethren  (with  others  of  Gods  People  pre- 
fent) to  lift  up  your  Hearts  with  Faith  and  Fervency  to  the 
God  of  all  Grace  and  Fulnefs  in  Jefus  Chrift,  that  I  may  be 
enabled  fo  to /peak  on  thefe  Heads,  and  you  fo  to  hear,  as 
that  our  Souls  may  be  much  quickened  and  animated  in  our 
Work,  in  order  to  the  faving  Good  of  many  Souls,  and  the 
Advancement  of  the  Divine  Glory  in  the  World. 

I  am,  according  to  the  Method  propos'd, 

I .  To  confider  it  as  a  Mercy  to  faithful  Minifters  of  the 
Goipel,  that  they  have  this  Minifiry^  that  they  are  call'd  to 
this  Work.  We  have  this  Miniftry^  as  we  have  received  Mer- 
cy^ faith  our  Text.  God  in  his  Mercy  is  fet  forth  by  an  ex- 
cellent Divine,  as  God  willing  to  fuccour  finful  Men  in  their 
Mifery.  And  how  is  this  remarkably  manifefled  to,  and  ex- 
perienced by  fuch  of  the  linful  miferable  Sons  of  Men,  as  are 
prepared  for,  and  improved  in  the  minifterial  Work.  Thus 
the  Apoflle  PauU  with  refpeA  to  the  glorious  Gofpel  of  the 
blefled  God,  which  was  committed  to  his  Truft,  fays,  / 
thank  Jefus  Chriji  our  Lord^  who  hath  ejiabled  me^  for  that  he 
counted  me  faithful^  putting  me  into  the  Minijiry  (b), 

b  I  Tim.  i.  ii,  J2.  Indeed, 


8  The  faithful  Mtnifter 

Indeed,  when  Men  rufli  into  the  Miniilry,  without"the 
Qualifications  which  the  Word  of  God  requires  ;  they  a<ft 
a  moil  fooiifli  Part,  and  a  Part  moft  dangerous  and  pernici- 
ous, both  to  tliemfeh^es  and  otliers  :  But  when  they  are  en- 
dow'd  with  thofe  Qualifications,  and  v/ithal  {<^\.  apart  to  the 
facred  Work  by  FaiHng  and  Prayer,  and  the  laying  on  of  tlie 
Hands  of  tlie  Preihytery  (c)  they  may  well  be  drawn  out  in 
Thankfulnefs  to  God  and  Chrift,  on  the  Account,  and  lay. 
This  is  a  Mercy,  a  gi^eat  Mercy y  confer'd  on  us  unworthy ^ 
'cile  andfiiiful  Duft,  that  unto  us  is  committed  the  Minijlry  oj 
Reconciliation   (d). 

This  the  Ambailadors  of  Chrift  juftly  efteem  a  Mercy y  as 
it  refpedls  themfeheSy  as  it  refpe<fts  others^  and  as  they  may 
thus  in  an  eminent  Degree  promote  the  Divine  Gkry  in  the 
World. 

I .  As  it  refpefls  them/elves. 

What  a  Mercy  is  it  ta  be  call'd  to  a  Work,  which  is  cal- 
culated to  promote  their  Increafe  of  Grace  as  well  as  Gifts  ? 
And  what  a  Comfort  muft  it  be  to  the  faithful  Minifters  of 
the  Gofpel,  to  confider,  that  their  general  and  particular 
Callings  do  happily  coincide  and  fubferve  each  other  ?  Their 
general  Calling,  the  Care  of  their  own  Souls,  their  particular 
Calling,  the  Care  of  others  Souls.  The  more  clofely  they 
walk  with  God  themfelves,  fo  much  the  more  faithful  and 
engag'd  they  are  in  their  Work,  and  the  more  likely  to  be 
fuccefsful ;  and  on  the  other  Hand,  the  more  faithful  they 
are  in  their  Work,  through  Grace,  fo  much  the  more  they 
grow  in  Grace,  and  in  the  Kjicwledge  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jefus  Chrift  (e).  So  much  the  more  their  Sculsprofper  ana 
are  in  Health  (f)  and  ordinarily  the  more  they  enjoy  the 
Confolations  of  the  Divine  Spirit,  which  are  not  fmalU  the 
more  their  Light  fhines  before  others,    and  they  adorn  their 

Pro- 

c  ABs  xiv.  23.  I  Tim.  iv.  14.  d  z  Cor,  v.  18,  19. 
t  2  Yet,  iii.   i8.    /  Epift,  of  Johi  ^,  2. 


"Encouraged^  ^c.  9 

Profeflion,  and  the  more  they  are  attemper'd  to  the  heaven- 
ly State,  and  prepared  for  eternal  Glory. 

'Tis  true  they  are  from  feveral  Quarters  befet  at  times 
with  Temptations,  perhaps  more  fo  than  others;  as  Officers 
in  an  Army  are  more  aim'd  and  pointed  at  by  the  Enemy 
than  private  Soldiers  ;  but  thefe  Temptations  their  great 
Lord  and  Leader  wifely  permits,  to  prove  them,  and  bring 
them  to  know  more  of  themfelves,  tliat  they  may  take  root 
downwards,  in  order  to  bear  Fruit  upwards  ;  he  (hews  them 
thus  their  own  Infufficiency,  and  leads  them  to  depend  up- 
on his  AU-fufficiency  in  the  New  Covenant,  and  hereupon 
they  find  him  a  very  prcfent  Help  in  'Trouble  (g)  :  They  are 
thus  humbled  and  purified,  and  made  more  meet  for  their 
Mafter's  Service,  more  watchful  and  circumipedt,  more  pa- 
tient and  refign'd  under  Trials  and  Sufferings,  and  more  di- 
ligent in  their  Work,  and  probably  more  fuccefsful  too  j 
and  this  is  a  great  Mercy, 

Again,  the  Minifters  of  Jefus  Chrift,  ^vq  to  give  themfelves 
to  reading,  to  Meditation  and  Prayer  3  and  how  may  they 
thus,  through  the  divine  Bleffing,  grow  apace,  both  in  doc- 
trinal and  experimental  Knowledge,  yea,  I  may  add,  in  e- 
very  Chriftian  Grace  and  Virtue  ?  And  is  not  this  a  great 
Mercy  P 

It  is  a  further  Comfort  and  a  Mercy  too,  that  we,  who 
have  this  Minijlry,  may  be  preaching  to  ourfelves,  as  well 
as  praying  over  the  Sermons  we  prepare  for,  and  preach  to 
others  ;  yea,  we  may  fee  more  clearly  the  beautiful  Harmo- 
ny and  Connedtion  of  divine  Truths,  as  well  as  feel  more  of 
the  happy  Effects  of  them  ;  while  we  are  attending  on  the 
Expofition  of  facred  Scripture,  and  when  catechifing  our 
People,  or  making  Preparations  therefor. 

In  the  Adminiftration  of  divine  Ordinances,  efpecially  the 

Sacraments  of  the  New  Teftament,  how  may  we  r6ap  much 

Profit  and  Pleafure  ourfelves,    through  Grace,  lee  more  of 

g  Pfal.xWu  I,  B  the 


I  o  TJoe  faithful  Mhufter 

•the  Falthfalnefs,  Grace,  Hollnefs,  and  other  P^rfecflions  of 
our  God  and  Saviour  j  and  grow  more  holy,  comfortable 
and  fruitfui. 

In  our  Fajloral  Vifits  wc  may  often,  through  Divine  A  A 
iiilance,  caution  and  comfort,  dired:  and  edify  others  and 
ourfelves  at  the  fame  Time, 

And  in  the  Difcipline  of  God's  Houfe,  while  we  endea- 
vour to  reclaim  others,  we  may  be  not  a  little  guarded  and 
benefited  ourfelves  :  We  may  be  led  to  fee  much  of  the  Ag- 
gravittions  and  Evil  of  Sin,  the  Snares  that  lie  thick  around, 
the  conftant  Neceflity  of  Watchfulnefs  and  Prayer,  and  of 
living  by  Faith  on  God  in  Chrift  ;  that  we  may  as  Chrijiiam^ 
and  as  Minijiers^  bring  forth  much  Fruit. 

In  a  Word,  every  Part  of  the  minifl^erial  Work  is  in  fome 
refpetSl  or  other  adapted  to  promote  our  increafmg  Conformi- 
ty to  the  Perfed:ions  and  Will  of  God  in  our  Hearts  and 
Lives  :  Is  it  not  then  a  Mercy ^  a  great  Mercy^  that  we  have 
been  call'd  to  this  Work  ?  We  have  this  Miniftry^  as  we  have 
received  Mercy . 

Though  it  is  a  difficult,  yet  it  is  alfo  a  delightful  and  ufe- 
ful,  as  well  as  honourable  Work  j  and  it  is  a  Mercy ^  not  only 
-.with  refpe6t  to  its,  but  alfo, 

2.  With  refped:  to  others. 

It  is  truly  adapted,  both  in  the  public  and  private  Parts  of 
it,  as  a  Means  to  promote  the  beft,  the  everiafling  Interefls  of 
all  our  Hearers  ;  but  Men  are  hardened  by  Sin  and  Unbelief, 
and  blinded  by  Satan  and  the  World  :  ^hey  hate  the  Lights 
_/ind  will  not  come  to  the  Light,  left  their  Deeds ft:Gidd  be  repro- 
ved (h).  And  nothing  fliort  of  the  Almighty  Energy  of  the 
Holy  Ghofl,  will  make  the  Word  effedual  to  faving  Puipo- 
fes  y  well  may  the  Regenerate  then  be  faid  to  be  born  of  the 
.Spirit    (i).     By    Grace  lue    are  faved,      through     Faith, 

and 

/'  Jshn  iii.  20.       i  John  iii.  5,  8. 


Encouraged^  <^c.  II 

and  that  ?iot  of  curfches,  it  is  the  Gift  of  God  .-  Not  of 
IVorks^  left  avy  Man  jhoidd boafi  (k).  But  as  the  Spirit  makes 
life  of  the  Word,  lb  we  are  faid  to  be  born  again  by  the  Wo?'d 
of  Gody  and  begotten  through  the  Gofpel  (I).  And  Faith  is 
faid  to  come  by  Hearings  and  Hearing  by  the  Word  of  God  -, 
for  how  ftjall  they  believe  in  him  cf  whom  they  have  not  heard?  and 
how  ffjall  they  hear  without  a  Preacher  t  and  how  fiall  they 
preachy  except  they  be  fent  (m)  ?  The  Apoftle  was  not 
aft: ame d  cf  the  Gofpel  of  Chrifty  for^  fays  he,  it  is  the  Power 
of  God  unto  Salvation  to  every  one  that  believethX  j  and  to  thefe  . 
we  are  the  Savour  of  Life  unto  Life^  through  rich  Grace^ 
although  to  others  the  Savour  of  Death  unto  Death  (n). 

We  are  call'd  in  the  minifterial  Work,  as  Inflruments  to 
i?ftru6i  the  Ignorant,  to  convince  the  Erroneous,  to  reclaim 
the  Vicious,  to  awaken  the  Secure,  to  rouze  the  Slothful, 
to  fap  the  Foundation  of  Hypocrites,  and  to  ft^ew  the  Self- 
righteous  their  extream  and  deftrudtive  Folly  ^  and  though 
this  is  truly  hard  Work,  yet  it  muft  be  done  in  God's 
Strength,  and  when  done  and  bleft,  very  ufefuL 

It  is  furtlier  ufeful  and  pleafant  withal,  to  dire^  enquiring 
Souls  to  Chrift,  to  win  them  over  to  him,  through  his  all- 
powerful  Grace,  that  they  may  receive  him  in  his  mofl:  glorious 
Perfon  and  precious  Benefits,  as  he  is  offer'd  in  the  Gofpel ; 
And  what  a  Mercy  is  this  both  to  us  and  them. 

Again;  we  are  call'd  as  Inftruments,  to  build  up  the  Saints 
in  Faith,  and  Holinefs,  and  Comfort.  We  are  to  comfort 
them  in  their   Trials  from   within   and  without,  with  the 

B  2  fame 

t  Very  jufl  then  is  the  Conclufion  drawn  by  the  p'ousand  ingenious  H'^attSf 
Sr.ould  all  the  Forms  that  Men  devilc, 

Afliult  my  Faith  v/ith  treach'rous  Art, 
rd  call  them  Vanity  and  Lies, 

And  bind  the  Gofpel  to  my  HearC. 

k  Eph.  ii.  8,  9.  /  I  Pet.  i.  23.  i  Cor/iv.  15,  m  Rom,  Xr 
^7?  H>  15-       n  Rom/i,  16.     zConiu  16. 


la  Toe  fatihfid  Mmtfter 

iame  Confolations^  ii'herewith  we  ourfehes  are  comforted  of  God, 
And  is  it  not  a  Favour  to  be  made  thus  ufeful  to  God's  Peo- 
ple ?  We  were  call'd  in  ©ur  Work  fo  carry  the  Lambs  in 
our  Bofom^  and  g^tfy  to  lead  thofe  that  are  with  Toutig^  after 
the  Example  and  under  the  Influence  of  the  great,  the  chief 
Shepherd  (p).     We  are  to  give  Milk  to  Babes ^   as  v^'ell  as 

firong  Meat  to  the  more  grown  (q)  X.o  jlrengthen  the  Weak, 
tofx  the  Wavering,  to  guide  the  Doubting,  to  quicken  the 
Backward,  to  fuccour  the  Tempted,  to  diredi  Believers  to  be 

firong^  not  in  the  Grace  they  have  received,  but  in  the  Grace 
which  is  in  Chriji  fefus  j  and  to  be  engaged,  through  Grace, 
in  improving  the  Comforts  they  enjoy,  as  Encouragements 
and  Means  to  an  higher  End,  even  Holinefs  and  the  Divine 
Glory.  Thus  our  Work,  the  minijierial  Work  is  adapted, 
and  thus  it  is  bleft  to  the  Benefit  of  many  Souls  :  We  may 
juftly  fay  then,  JVe  have  this  Mini flrjy  as  we  have -received 
Mercy  :  Efpecially  lince, 

3.  We  may,  with  Divine  Afliftance,  by  and  in  this  Work, 
in  an  eminent  Degree  promote  the  Divine  Glory  in  the 
World. 

How  is  the  Glory  of  God  and  Chrift  and  true  Religion  ma- 
nifefted  by  our  Increafe  in  Gifts  and  Grace,  in  Holinefs  and 
Ufefulnefs  Thence  it  appears  in  fome  Meafure  what  a  Maf- 
ter  we  ferve,  what  a  God  we  worfliip,  what  a  Saviour  we 
preach  and  offer,  what  a  Religion  we  profefs  and  recom- 
mend. 

My  Brethren^  certainly  God  is  thegreateft  and  befl  of  Be- 
ings ;  furely  then,  the  fetting  him  forth  to  be,  or  manifeft- 
ing  him  as  fuch,  is  the  greatefl:  andhigheil  End  that  can  be  : 
This  is  his  Glory,  this  End  is  worthy  of  a  God,  and  this 
is  the  higheft  End  of  all  his  Friends,  Children  and  Servants  : 
This  End,  the  Work  of  the  Miniftry,  is  wonderfully  luited 
and  bleft  to  promote  :  What  a  Mercy  is  it  then  to  any  of  us 
"viky  apoftate  and  perijhing  Sons  of  Men,  to  be  brought 
plfa.xli,         q  \Cor,\\\.   i,  2.  home 


ho«ie  to  Chrift,    and  call'd  to  this  facred  V/oik.     We  h{r:a 
this  Minijlry^  as  ive  have  received  Mercy. 

I  would  ^ere  make  two  Re?i7ti?'ks  on  this  Head,  before 
we  pais  to  the  next.  • 

*  I .  We  may  plainly  fee,  that  we  wKo  ^re  fn  the  Mitiiftry^ 
have  no  reafon  to  tkink.  highly  of  ourfelves,  no  reafon  to  be 
proud  and  Vain-ghricus.  We  fliould  indeed  take  Care  "to 
tnagjiify  cur  Office^  and  in -no  Inflanceis  or  reipCLi^s  to  under- 
a(it  the  facred  Chara6ter  ;  but  at  the  fmie  Time,  the  Lan- 
guage of  each  of  our  Souls,  muil:  be  that  of  "Job^  Behold  I  am 
vile  (r)X,  The  Temper  of  our  Minds,  and  the  Tenor  of 
our  Lives,  fliould  be  humble  and  holy.  How  fhould  we 
be  clothed  with  Humility,  as  it  were  from  Head  to  Foot,  who 
are  Minifters  of  the  meek  and  towly  Jefus  :  How  Ihouid  wc 
watch  and  pray  againft  Pride,  hate  and  fliun  this  \i\^  Monjicr 
and  this  dangerous  Snare,  tliis  awful  Cojidemnation  of  the  De- 
vil. Let  us  often  think,  for  our  Humiliation,  What  have 
we  J  that  is  in  any  Meafure  good  and  valuable,  that  we  haroe 
not  received  f  And  again,  what  have  we  that  we  have  not 
mifimproved  ?  And  as  to  the  Gofpel  Minilliry,  it  will  be  a 
fpecial  Guard  againfl  Pride,  to  realize,  through  Grace, 
liow  we  came  by  it,  namely,  by  meer  undcfcrved  Mercy ^  and 
fhall  we  be  proud  of  Mercy  ?  V/e  have  this' Miriijiry  orh  as 
we  have  received  Mercy.  Where  is  Boafting  then  ?  It  is'ex- 
eluded. 

2.  Hence 

t  "  It  h  a  divine  as  well  as  wife  and  jjft  Remark  mad-  by  one  of  hec^reatr^ft 
"  JMjJrrs  ot  ^hctiirht  in  the  lart  Age,  that  P-rlons  cf- ^m.?///)- and  Ch'arjitcr 
*'  oughrto  )>avc  tw...  Sjcts  of  Thoughts  by  which  to  regulate  iheir  Cotidiict  :  By 
**  xhi:  nns  rhcvafeto  view  themleives.inrlieirSi:.ueofi.iilia|^nifhinf»£7(j:«?/w;?,  w  irch 
*'  i>  nor  from  >-;:]ture,  but  arbitrary  IJlMi'^mept  ;  by  tlie  ether  they  are  to  rake  a 
*'  Prpfp'-dt  cf  themfclves  in  their  natural  Conditio!)  of  I?Jim:ity  ar.d  Icjf.alHjy 
<»  with  the  rcli  of  Mankind."  (And  I  may  here  add,  of  Sin  and  Mifer/.j 
Pemberton'i  Electkn  Sermov,  p.  i, 

r  Job  xL  4, 


14  The  faithful  Mini  ft er 

2.  Hence  wc  may  obferve  Ground  of  peculiar  Encourage- 
ment in  the  Work  of  the  Miniftry  amidft  all  the  Difficulties 
that  attend  it.  We  have  this  Miniflry\  as  we  hcve  ?-e*ceived 
Mercj  5  and  is  it  a  Mercy  we  have  it,  and  fhall  we  be  i^u^ 
Gouraged  with  it  t  Shall  we  be  dilcouraged  witli  Mercy  ? 
Therefore  let  us  T^ot  faint. 

With  this  Thought  we  come  by  an  eafy  Tranfition,  to  the 

2.  General  Head^  under  whi-ch  I  9m  to  confider  and  fet  be- 
fore you  fome  of  the  many  Reafons  and  Argiments  inducing 
to  Faithfulnefs  in  the  Minifteriai  Work  :  And  here, 

I .  The  Command  in  God's  Word  iliould  powerfully  and 
conilantly  engage  to  be  faithful  and  not  faint  in  this  great 
Work.  This  Command  we  have  in  thcfe  Words  (f)  Go  ye 
and  teach  all  Nations^  baptizing  them  'in  the  Name  of  the  Father^ 
and  of  the  Son,  and  f  the  Holy  Ghoft  :  Teaching  them  to  obferve 
all  Things  whatfcever  I  have  commanded  you.  And  in  another 
Place,  Take  heed  to  your  [elves  ^  ajid  to  all  the  Fleck,  over  which 
the  Holy  Ghofl  hath  made  Tou  Overfeers,  to  feed  the  Church  of 
God,  which  be  hath  pur  chafed  with  his  own  Blood.  And  again, 
I  charge  thee  before  God,  and  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrifl,  who  fall 
fudge  the  ^dck  afid  the  Dead  at  his  Appearing,  a?id  his  King- 
dom :  Preach  the  Word,  be  infiant  in  Seafon,  and  out  of  Seafon  -, 
reprove,  rebuke,  ^exhort  with  all  Longfuffering  and  DoBrine. 
IVatchthouin  all  Things,  endure  Affiidlions,  do  the  Work  of  an 
Evangelift,  make  full  Proof  of  thy  Minifry.  With  many 
other"  PafTages  to  the  fame  Purpofe.  Surely,  my  Brethren, 
the  Mind  and  Will  of  the  Lord,  infinitely  glorious  in  him- 
felf,  and  withal  our  Maker,  Preferver,  and  Governor,  Be- 
nefador  and  Redeemer,  thus  revealed  in  his  Word,  fhould 
engage  us,  through  Grace,  to  chearful,  conftant  and  faithfal 
Obedience.  Therefore  feeing  we  have  this  Mijiiftry,  as  we 
have  received  Mercy,  let  us  not  faint. 

2.  The 

f  Mat,xxvnu  19,20*   JBsxx.2d.    2Tim.iv.  i,  2,  5^ 


2.  The  Example  cf  Chrifi  fiiould  animate  us  in  the  mini- 
fterial  Work. 

Here  we  have  a  perfedt  Pattern  to  copy  after.  The  blef- 
fed  Jefus  difcover'd  from  Time  to  Time  the  moil  ardent 
Love  to  God  and  Man  in  his  more  public  and  private  Trapi- 
a6i:ions  and  Miniilrations,  and  Icuglit  not  his  own  Glory,  but 
the  Glory  of  him  tliat  fent  him  i  io  fhould  we,  .tlir-ougli  his 
Grace. 

How  zealous  and  couragious  was  he,  and  yet  how  pru- 
dent and  diicreet  ?  How  plain  and  pungent,  and  yet  how 
compaflionate,  how  regardlefs  of  the  Flatteries  or  Frowns  oi 
the  ¥/orld  ?  how  meek  and  lov/ly  of  Heart  ?  how  faithful 
in  the  Difcharge  o{  perlbnal  and  relative  Duties  ?  how  holy 
and  pure  ?  how  refigned  to  his  Heavenly  Father's  Difpolai  ? 
how  frequent  and  fervent  in  Prayer,  and  how  laborious  in 
his  beloved  Work  ?  (t)  I  mufi  work,  fays  he,  the  Works  cf 
him  that  jhit  me,  while  it  is  Day.  And  again,  My  Meat  is 
to  do  the  Will  of  him  that  fe7it  me,  and  tofinifh  his  Work. 

How  willing  was  he  to  do  and  fuffer  what  he  was  call'd  to, 
even  to  the  Death  ?  Oh  Sirs  !  Let  the  fame  mi  fid  be  in  us, 
that  was  in  him  :  Wherefore,  holy  Brethren,  Partakers  of  tloe 
heavenly  Calling,  let  us  confider  the  Apoftle  and  High  Prieji  of 
our  Profefjion,  Chrifi  Jefus  ;  who  was  faithful  to  him  that  ap- 
pointed him,  as  alfoMoks  was  faithful  in  all  his  Houfe  (u). 
Let  us  not  then  be  weary  or  faint  in  our  minds,  or  flag  in  the 
more  difficult  Part,  or  latter  Stages  of  our  road  ;  but  may 
we  fay,  and  fpeak  it  with  Truth,  Seeing  we  hai>e  this  Mini- 
ftry,  as  we  have  received  Mercy  [of  the  Lord]  we  faint  ?iot. 

3.  The  Example  of  Chr if;  s  faithful  Servants  in  the  Mini- 
ftry   fhould  animate  us  in  the  Work.     'Tis  true,  my  Bre- 
thren, the  beft  of  Chrift's  Minifters  are  imperfed  in  the  pre- 
fent  State,    and  therefore  not  to  be  propos'd  as  perfe(5t  Pat- 
terns 

t  John  x\,  4*     John  iv.  34.     u  Heb,  iii.   i,  2. 


1 6  The  faithful  Mini  ft er 

terns  for  Imitation  -,  but  we  are  to  be  Fclhwers  cfthem,  even 
ds  they  are  of  Chriji  (w)  j  fo  far  as  they  are  fo,  and  no  far- 
tlier.  How  encouraging  is  it  to  obferve  them,  while  attend- 
ed with  a  Body  of  Sin  and  Death,  and  a/Tauited  by  Temp- 
tations from  the  World  and  the  Devil,  as  we  are  3  yet, 
through  Grace,  approving  themfelves  fincere,  and  in  a  good 
Degree  engag'd  in  their  Work. 

What  a  lovely  Example  is  fet  before  us  in  our  Text,  and 
tne  following  Verfe  j  Therefore  feemg  we  have  this  Miniflry, 
as  we  have  received  Mercy,  we  faint  not  :  But  have  retiounced 
the  hidden  Things  of  Diponejly,  not  walking  in  Craftinefs^  nor 
handling  the  Word  of  God  deceitfully^  but  by  manifefiation  of 
the  Truths  commending  ourfehes  to  every  mans  Confcience  in. 
the  Sight  of  God.  And  again,  in  the  fame  Epiflle,  F/e  do  all 
Things,  dearly  Beloved,  for  your  Edifying  (x).  Our  Exhort- 
ation, faith  this  great  Apoftle  of  the  Gentiles,  in  another  E- 
piitle  (yj  was  not  of  Deceit,  nor  of  Uncleannefs,  nor  in  Guile ^ 
but  as  we  were  allowed  of  God  to  be  put  in  T?'uji  with  the  Gofpel, 
even  fo  wefpeak,  not  as  pleafing  Men,  but  God,  which  trieth 
our  Hearts.  For  neither  at  any  Time  ufed  we  flattering  Words, 
as  ye  know,  nor  a  Cloke  of  Covet 01  fnefs  ;  God  is  Witnefs.  Nor 
of  men  fought  we  Glory,  neither  of  youi  nor  yet  of  others  :  Be- 
ing affeSlionately  defirous  of  Ton,  we  were  willing  to  have  im- 
parted unto  Toil,  not  the  Gofpel  of  God  only,  but  alfo  our  own 
Souls,  becaufe  Te  were  dear  unto  us.  Te  are  Witnefjes,  and 
God  alfo,  how  holily,  and  juftly,  and  unblameably  we  behaved 
ourfehes  amonglTou  that  believe  :  And  elfewhere  fz).  I  take 
Toil  to  record  this  Day,  that  I  am  pure  from  the  Blood  of  all 
-men  -,  for  I  have  not  Jhunned  to  declare  unto  Tou,  the  whole 
Coimfel  of  God.  Te  know  how  I  kept  back  nothing  that  was  pro- 
fitable unto  Tou,  but  have  fiewed  Tou,  and  have  taught  Tou  pub- 

lickly 

w  I  Cor.yii.  i.     x  2Cor.xn.  19.    ^   i  Thefiu  3,4,5,6, 
S,  10.     z  Adisxx,  26,  2ji  1 8,  20,  31,  24* 


Encouraged^    <^'c.  17 

lickly  and  frofn  Hcufe  tc  Hotife,  Remember  that  hy  the  Space 
of  Tb'ee  Tears,  I  ceafed  not  to  'warn  every  one  Night  a?id  Day 
<with  Tears,  Again  i]::eaking  of  Bends  and  AffHulions  abiding 
him,  he  fays,  But  7iO/ic  of  ilocfe  Tloiiigs  move  me,  iieithcr  count 
I  my  Life  dear  unto  myfelf,  J'o  that  I  might  fnijh  my  Cowfi 
iviih  Joy,  and  the  Miniftry  which  I  have  received  of  the  Lord 
Jcfus,  to  tejfify  the  Go/pel  of  the  Grace  oj  God. 

0\\  !  how  willing  have  the  faithtul  Servants  of  the  dear 
Redeemer  been  in  the  primitive  Times,  and  fince,  to  keep  un- 
der their  Bodies  (a)  to  Uve  near  to  God,  to  jpe?id  and  be /pent 
in  the  Service  of  Ch rift  and  of  Souls  ;  and  even  when  cail'd 
to  it,  to  feal  the  Truth  with  their  Blood. 

We  have  great  reafon,  my  Brethren,  to  blefs  God,  that 
a  confiderable  Number  of  the  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel,  in 
Great-Britain  and  America  have,  in  our  Day,  been  much 
engag'd  in  the  Caufe  of  God  ;  among  thefe  may  be  reckon'd 
godly  Mr.  Whitefield,  whole  indefatigable  2.Vi<iJuccejsful  La- 
bours, for  almoft  twenty  Years  together,  fliouid  be  improv'd 
for  the  Encouragement  and  Quickening  of  all  truly  engag'd 
in  the  facred  Work  ;  whole  Name  is  juflly  very  dear  to  us  : 
May  God  Almighty  always  keep  him,  with  other  his  Ser- 
vants, humble;  blefs  them,  and  make  them  Bleffings,  and 
that  more  and  more  abundantly,  to  the  Praife  of  his  Glory  in 
Chrifi  Jefus. 

While  we  are  mufino-  on  thefe  Thino;s,  let  the  Fire  of 
Divine  Love  and  Zeal  be  enkindled  in  ourBreafts,  aiidburn 
vigoroully,  that  we  may  be  fweetly  conflrained  to  fay, 
Th'^refore  feeing  we  have  this  Miniflry,  as  we  have  received 
M'jrcy,    we  faijit  not,    and,    throngh  Grace,    we   will  not 


faint. 


C  4.  The 

I  Gr.  ix»  27. 


i8  The  faithful  Minifier 

4.  The  'Example  of  the  holy  Angehy  fliould  quicken  us  in 
our  Work.  They  are  Meiiengers  of  the  Lord,  as  their 
Name  imports  j  in  feverai  relpedts  their  Work  and  ours  re- 
femble  each  other  ;  no  Wonder  then,  that  Minifters  of  the 
Gofpcl  are  called  Angels  [b).  It  may  further  be  intended 
by  this  Appellation,  that  we  fliould  be  excited,  as  far  as  tlie 
Imperfe(Sions  of  the  prefent  State  admit,  to  an  Imitation 
of  the  holy  Angels,  who  are  laid  [c)  always  to  behold  the 
Face  of  our  Father  which  is  in  Heavefiy  and  fly  with  winged 
Zeal  to  execute  his  Commands,  encamp  rciind  about  thofe 
that  fear  the  Lord,  fcJr  their  Comfort  and  Deliverance,  and 
rejoice  at  the  Converfion  of  Sinners,  &c. 

Are  the  Angels  heavenly-minded,  zealous  and  faithful  in 
their   Work,    let  us  be  fo  in  ours,  through  Grace  ;  The?'e- 
fore,  feeing  we  have  this  Miniftry,  as  ive  have  received  Mercy, 
let  us  not  faint. 

5.  The  Induftry  and  Malice,  Subtilty  and  Succefs  of  the 
Devil  in  his  Attempts  to  ruin  Mens  Souls,  fhould  engage 
us  the  more  in  faithful  Endeavours,  that  they  may  be  refcu- 
ed  and  faved  ;  or  in  other  Words,  fhould  quicken  us  to 
Diligence  in  our  Work. 

We  are  not  ignorant  of  Sata?is  Devices  (d)  :  Let  us  then 
be  concerned,  that  we,  and  others,  efpecially  thofe  under 
our  immediate  Care,  may  be  guarded  againfl  them. 

The  Drift  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  in  order  to  the  recovery 
of  poor  captive  Seuls  out  of  the  Snare  of  the  Devil,  is  to 
counter-ad:,  and  to  guard  againfl  his  Devices  (e).  The 
Minifters  of  the  Gofpel,  as  Workers  together  with  God  (f) 

are 

b  Rev.i.  20.  cMat.xvm.io.  Dan.'ix.  9,21.  P/I  c.  ill.  20,21. 
Pfal.xxxiv.  7.  Lttke  xv.  10.  d  2  Cor.  ii.  11.  e  2  Cor.  iv. 
3,  4.  comp.with  A&s  xxvi.  17,   18.    f  2  Cor.  vi.  i. 


Encouraged^    ^r.  19 

are  engag*cl  as  Inftruments  to  guard  againft  the  fame  Devi- 
ces, and  are  efpeclally  concern'd  that  Souls  may  7iot  recei-ie 
the  Gofpel  of  the  Grace  of  God  m  vaijt  {g).  0\ir  AdvcTfary 
the  Devil^  as  th-e  Apoftle  Peter  obferves,  as  a  roarir.g  hion\ 
walkelh  about ^  peeking  wlmn  he  may  devour. 

Is  the  Devil,  the  Enemy  of  ail  Good,  an  Adverfary  to 
Souls  ?  Shall  not  we  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel  be  Friends  to 
them  ? 

Is  he,  with  his  Inflruments,  fet  with  Boldnefs,  like  Li- 
ons, againft  Souls  ?  Sha'n't  we  be  couragious  as  Lions  in  go- 
ing through  all  Difficulties  to  promote  their  faving  Good  ? 
Does  he  roar  with  Malice  and  Wrath  againft  Souls  ?  Sha'n't 
we  cry  with  Fervency  to  God  for  them,  and  cry  aloud  to 
them  with  Bowels  of  Pity  and  Compaffion,  and  befeech  them 
to  be  reconciled  to  God  ?  Does  the  Devil  walk  about,  feeking 
whom  he  may  devour,  and  that  with  awful  Succefs,  and 
fliall  we  flick  at  any  Pains,  Night  or  Day,  in  public  or  pri- 
vate, at  home  or  abroad,  in  the  Bufinefs  of  our  Calling  as 
Minifters,  which  is  to  feek  whom  we  may  as  Inftruments 
fave  from  the  Jaws  of  this  devouring  Lion,  and  guide  to  the 
regions  of  Glory  ?  If  we.  Brethren,  fhould  faint,  the  De- 
vil will  not ;  iljerefore  feeing  we  have  this  Miniilry,  as  we 
have  received  Mercy,  let  us  not  faint, 

6.  The  Worth  of  Souls  fhould  engage  Miniflers  of  the 
Gofpel  to  Faithfulnefs  in  their  Work.  The  great  Worth  of 
Souls  makes  the  Devil  fo  eager  to  deftroy  them. 

This  makes  the  holy  Angels  engag'd  for  their  Good  ; 
this  caufes  yoy  in  Heaven  on  their  Converfwn,  Here  are  two 
Worlds  at  Strife  ;  about  what  ?  about  earthly  Crowns  and 
Scepters  ?  no  !  thefe  are  Trifles.     About  what  then  ?    The 

C  2  Souls 

g  2  Cor.  vi.   I.     I  Pet.  v.  8.     - 


lo  •  The  faithful  Mmi/Ier 

SduIs  of  Men,  whofc  Worth  is  exceeding  great.  What  are 
^//  the  Kingdoms  of  the  Worlds  afd  Gkry  of^hem^  in  Compa- 
rifon  witli  the  Soul  ?  If  you  putthefe  in  one  Scale,  and  the 
Soul  in  the  other,  they  come  up  light  as  Vanity  itfelf. 

Our  Blelled  Saviour  has  determined  this  Point,  both^by 
his  Words  and  Ff^Oilce  j  by  his  Prad:ice,  v/hen  he  pour'd 
Contempt  on  the  World  ;  but  laid  down  his  precious  Life, 
and  fhed  his  Heart's  Blood,  to  redeem  and  lave  peri(hing 
Souls  : — By  his  Words,  which  are  theie  (b)  F/kcit  is  a 
Man  profited^  if  he  Jhall  gain  the  whole  Worlds  atid  lofe  his  own 
Sold  f    Or  whatfhall  a  Man  give  in  Exchange  for  his  Soul  ? 

Oh  !  Shall  we  not  be  engaged  then,  agreeable  to  the  De- 
lign  of  our  Commiffion,  and  from  a  Senfe  of  the  Worth  of 
Souls,  in  the  moil  painful  and  faithful  Endeavours,  through 
divine  aflilling  Grace,  to  open  Mens  EyeSy  and  to  turn  them 
from  Darknefs  to  Lights  and  fro?n  the  Power  of  Satan  unto 
God^  that  they  may  receive  Fcrgive?iefs  cf  Sins,  and  Inheritance 
wnong  them  that  are  fandlifed  by  Faith  which  is  in  Ch^ifl. 
''Therefore,  beloved  Brethren,  feeing  we  have  this  Miniftry,  as 
we  have  received  Nlsrcy.  let  us  4iot  faint. 

J.  Mens  Care  and  Pains  about  Things  of  lefs  Worth,  fhould 
engage  and  animate  us  in  our  Work-f*.  How  will  Men  rife 
up  early,  ar.dfit  up  late  (i)  and  eat  the  Bread  of  Sorrow  and 
Care,  in  order  to  obtain  earthly  Enjoyments,  which  perilh  in 

the 

^  A  Soul  IfTimortal,  fpendinpjall  her  Fires, 

Wafting  her  Strenp;th  in  (frcniious  Jdlencfs, 

Thrown  Jnto  Tumult  rapur'd,  or  alai-mM, 

Ac  ouiiht  this  Scene  can  threaten,  or  indulge, 

Refcmbles  Ocean  into  Tempcit  wrought, 

To  v/afc  a  Feather,  or  to  drown  a  ^\y.         Wght  Thoughts. 

h  Mutthew  xvi.  26.         i  Pfalm  cxxvii.  2., 


EncGuragedy  ^c.  il 

tJic  U'ing.  What  Pains  wili  Men  take,  yea,  what  Jla- 
zards  will  they  run,  in  purruit  of  "  glittering  Gems,  '^'^wiify 
Honors,  and  lhinii:ig  Dufl:/'  which  after  all  are  Vanity  ? 
How  will  Men  be  at  vaft  Expence  and  Labour^  ibmc  Way 
or  other,  to  pleafe  and  pamper  their  Bodies,  which  yet  muft 
foon  moulder  into  their  kindred  Duft  j  a*id  fhail  not  we  be 
as  much,  nay  more  concern'd  about  their  precious  Souls, 
that  mufl  furely  live  forever,  either  in  a  State  of  Happinefs^ 
or  Mifcryj-  ?  Therefore  Jeer/tg  ive  have  ibis  Mlnijlr\\  as  ive 
hdvc  7\'ceived  Mercy,  let  lis  ucver  faint. 

Again,  the  Sujiciency  of  Divine  Grace  held  forth  to  us  in 
^iQ precious  P?'o,>?nfes  of  Cod's  Word,  fliould  comfort  and  a- 
nimate  us  in  our  Work.  Many  and  great  are  our  Trials 
and  Difficulties  from  without  and  v/ithin,  and  they  often 
meet  and  join  their  Forces ;  we  may  well  fay  then,  Who  is 
fiifficient for  thefe  Things  [k)  ?  And  we  (hould  furely  iinlc,, 
had  we  not  a  mo-re  than  human  Prep,  at  fuch  a  Time,  a 
divine  Support  ;  fuch  as  Paulh-did.  given  him,  when  afiiided 
with  a  Thorn  in  the  Flef\  the  Mefhiger  of  S>atan  to  buffet 
him  :  When  in  this  D.ilrefs,  he  befought  the  Lord  thrice,  he 
had  this  Anfwer  (/)  My  Grace  is  jufficient  for  thee,  for  my 
Strength  is  made  perfeB  in  IVeakriefs.  How  is  it  with  Paul 
now  ?  he  is  kept  from  fainting,  he  is  refrelh'd,  he  even  re- 
joices and  triumphs,  and  gives  God  the  Glory  ;  Mo/i  gladly 
therefore,  fays  he,  will  I  rather  glory  in  my  Infirmities,  that 
the  Power  of  Chrijl  may  refl  upon  me.     Again  he  tells  us  elfe- 

where, 

t  Beware  whaf  Earth  calls  Happinefs  ;  beware 

Ail  Joy.v,  but  J  >•  %  tl-.at  never  can  evpire. 

Who  builds  on  LTs  than  an  immoyt.^l  B.ife, 

Fond  as  he  feems,  cond.mns  bis  Joys  to  Death.         Ni^bt  Iboughts* 

k  z  Cor,  ii.     1 6.         ■/  2  Cor,  xii.  9^ 


ri  The  faithful  Mini jler 

where  {jn)  He  can  do  all  Things^  through  Chrifl^  ivhich 
jireiigtheneth  him  ;  lb  may  we  too,  living  by  Faith  on  the 
fame  Mediator  of  the  New  Covenant^  which  is  well  ordered  in 
all  Things,  and  Jure  :  Let  us  then  trti/i  in  the  Lord  for  ever  ; 
in  the  Lord  Jehovah  is  everlafiing  Strength  (;z).  But  what 
need  I  enlarge  ?  Have  we  not  the  exprefs  Promife  of  our 
Lord  Jefus  Chriffc  to  his  faithful  Minifrers  (<?)  Lo,  I a^n  with 
you  always,  even  unto  the  End  of  the  World.  Therefore,  feeing 
we  have  this  Miniflry,  and  thefe  Supports  and  Encourage- 
ments, as  we  have  received  Mercy,  we  faint  not. 

Furthermore,  furi'-ounding  Dangers  join'd  to  the  laft  Con- 
lideration,  fliould  engage  us  to  Faithfulnefs  in  our  Work. 
Indeed  Dangers  in  themfelves  tend  to  damp  and  difcourage, 
but  when  they  meet  with  a  Mind  prepar'd  for  them,  they 
ferve  to  quicken  and  animate.  This  is  remarkable  in  Fcr- 
fons  of  a  martial  Spirit  -,  I  may  inftance  in  Alexander  the 
Great,  who  in  a  Time  of  great  and  uncommon  Peril,  breaks 
out  into  this  Expreihon,  Jioc  eji  pericuhim,  par  aitimo  Alex- 
andri  ?  "  This  is  a  Danger  fit  for  the  Spirit  of  an  Alexander 
*'  to  encounter." 

As  the  Devil  would  fain  ruin  Souls,  fo  he  would  fain 
keep  Miniflers  of  the  Word  from  being  faithful  ;  and  often 
ftands  at  their  Right-hand  to  refift  them  (/>).  The  remains  of 
Corruption  within  us,  give  great  Strength  to  his  Temptati- 
ons ;  and  the  Difficulty  and  Danger  is  increas'd  by  the 
V/orld  ',  I  mean  by  the  Fears  and  the  Hopes  of  the  prefent 
•  State.  Oh  !  what  Need  have  we  to  live  near  to  God,  that 
we  may  be  well  fupplied  and  fortified  againfl  thefe  Aflaults  -, 
and  hkewife  flrength'ned  and  engaged  through  Gr?.ce,  to 

pluck 

m  Phil.  iv.  13..  n  Ifa.  xxvi.  4..  0  Mat.  xxviii.  20. 
f  Zech.  iii»  i . 


Encouraged y    <^c,  ij 

pluck  Souls  as  Brands  out  of  the  Burnings  and  to  ufe  fkiifuliy 
and  faithfully  thofe  Weapons  of  Dodrine  and  Difcipiine, 
which  are  not  carnal^  but  mighty^  through  Gcd,  to  the  pulling 
down  of  flrong  Holds  (q)  the  ftrong  Holds  of  Sin,  eipeciaiiy 
Licentioufnefs  and  Seif-righteoufnefs,  and  of  Satan  and  the 
V/orld,  who  are  join'd  in  a  moil  difmal  and  dangerous  Con- 
federacy. 

Ao-ain,  the  Dangers  that  at  prefent  furround  our  Land 
and  Nation,  fliould  deeply  affed  us,  and  engage  us  in  en- 
crealing  Zeal,  Labours  and  Faithfulnefs. 

We  are  indeed  bleft  with  very  great  Privileges  both 
ci'vil  andfacred,  under  the  Smiles  of  iridulgent  Heaven,  and' 
the  mild  and  juft  Adminiflration  of  the  befl  of  Kings,  who 
may  well  be  filled  a  Father  of  his  People  ;  but  the  haughty, 
perfidious  and  cruel  French,  with  their  Confederates,  are 
bent  upon  rending  thefe  Privileges  if  poffible  from  us  ;  tip- 
on  deflroying  our  Lives,  or,  which  ought  to  be  much  dear- 
er to  us,  our  Liberty  and  our  Religion. 

An  holy  and  righteous  God,  tho'  he  has  favour'd  us  with 
fome  remarkable  Inftances  of  undeferved  Goodnefs  and  Suc- 
cefs  in  the  Eaji  and  North  ;  for  which  we  ought  furely  to 
return  him  our  mofl  grateful  Acknowledgments  in  Heart, 
Lip  and  Life  ;  yet  becaufe  of  the  many  and  grievous  Sins  of 
this  Land  and  Nation  has  fuffer'd  cur  Enemies  to  gain  fome 
Advantages  againfl  us,  efpecially  in  our  late  awful  Defeat  to 
the  Wefward. 

Thus  we  fee  in  fome  Meafure  what  we  are  when  left  to 
ourfelves;  but  ^^o  will  be  indeed  to  us  if  God  depart  from  us  (r) 
an  A  a  Deluge  of  Po/^r^,  Tyranny  and  5/rf"i;^ry  overwhelm  us. 

Our  Danger  is  evidently  much  encreafed  by  the  aforefaid 
terrible  Frown  of  Divine  Providence  i  but  what  makes  our 

Cafe 
q  2  Cor,  X.  4.  r   Hef   ix.   12. 


a4'  The  faithful  MiniRer 

Cafe  moft  of  all  dark  and  dlfmal  is  this,  viz.  Our  continuing 

in  general  ftupid  and  unrefornid^  unbelieving  and  impenitetit 
under  this  late  aufid  Judgment,  added  to  tlie  Droughty  and 
to  other  Judgments  fent  before,  as  well  as  under  the  many 
and  great  Mercies  and  Privileges  we  have  long  enjoy'd,  and 
long  ahiisd  and  mifimp-rcvd^  which  the  Lord  in  his  Provi- 
dence tlyerefore  loudly  threatens  to  take  from  us,  to  v/ith- 
draw  hi-i  gracious  Inliuence  and  Proted:ion  at  once,  and 
what  wouid  then  be  left  behind,  but  Darknefs  and  Perplexi- 
ty, Co?>fufiof2  ajid  Horror,  Defolation  and  Mifery  ? 

In  this  Day  of  Darknefs  and  Gioominefs,  jny  Brethren,  we 
fliould  be  deeply  humbled  and  penitent  ourfelves,  and  faith-, 
fully  promote  others  being  fo.  In  this  Day  of  imminent 
Danger,  let  us  not  fail  to  found  the  Alarm  with  Faithfulnefs 
and  Gompailion,  with  Piainnefs  and  Pungency.  Let  us  cry 
aloud,  and  not  f pare  (J^J  let  us  fiew  to  our  People,  and  the 
People  of  this  Land  and  Nation,  their  •Tranfgreffions  and th€)V 
Sins,  Sins  a^ainfl:  God's  Law  and  againfl  his  Grace,  &c.  and 
let  us,  through  Grace,  be  more  faithful  than  ever  in  our 
Labours,  both  in  public  and  private  for  the  good  of  dear 
precious  Souls  :  And  how  fliould  we  Brethren  withal,  as 
Ddifiel'  fuccefsfuily  did  (t)  fet  our  Face  to  the  Lord  God,  to 
feek  by  Prayer  and  Supplication,  with  Falling  and  Humiliati- 
on, and  confejjing  our  Sin,    and  the  Sin  of  our  People. 

Thus  let  us  lland  in  the  Gap,  as  well  as  on  the  Wa^ch  'Tower  : 
For  Zioris  Sah'  we  will  not  hold  our  Peace,  and  for  yerufalem's 
Sake  we  will  ?'iot  rejl,  until  the  Righ-eoufnefs  thereof  go  Jorth  as 
Brightnrjs,  and  the  Salvation  thereof  as  a  Lamp  that  burn- 
eth  (u).  jTherfore  feeing  we  have  this  Miniftry,  as  we  have  re- 
ceived Mercy,  we  faint  not,  and,  thro'  Grace,  v/e  will  not  faint. 

Several 

/  Tfa,  Ivlii.i.     t  Dan,  IX.  3,  20.      u  Ifi.  Ixii.  i. 


Encouraged^  ^c,  X5 

Several  other  Arguments  engaging  to  Faithfulnefs  In  the 
;minii^erial  Work,  might  here  be  conlidered,  but  as  I  would 
not  be  tedious,    I  purpofe  to  mentioa  them  more  briefly  in.  a 
concluding  Addrels,  and  pafs  now  to  the 

APPLICATION. 

i^j  I.  Hence  we  learn,  what  young  Men  fhould  have  a  true 
and  juft  Senib  of,  who  are  about  to  enter  upon  the  Work  of 
the  feofpel  Miniftry  j  even  of  thefe  important  Arguments 
and  Motives  mentioned,  and  fuch  like. 

Surely  they  ought  to  fit  down  and  count  the  Coji  in  the 
firft  Place  : — It  would  be  extream  Folly  to  do  otherwife, 
and  if  they  do  that  well,  they  would  by  no  Means  venture 
on  the  Work,  without  a  real  and  fpiritual  Senfe  of  the  Mo- 
tives engaging  to  Faithfulnefs  therein  ;  for  without  that, 
they  might  juftly  exped:  to  faint  and  fail  under  the  Difficulties 
of  the  Work,  v/hich  are  fuch,  as  would  be  too  hard  for  a 
Gahriely  unailifled  to  grapple  with.  What  Prefumption, 
what  Madnefs  is  it  tlien,  for  any  one  to  undertake  this  Work 
in  his  own  Strength,  which  is  Weaknefs  itfeJJ\  and  will  be  as 
nothings  when  fet  againft  the  united  Temptations  of  the 
Worlds  the  FleJJj  and  the  Devil  ?  How  is  the  poor  Soul 
made  an  eafy  Prey,  being  without  God,  and  without  his 
Grace  and  Strength  fecured  ?  and  what  is  like  to  become 
then  of  the  miferable  Souls  he  undertakes  the  Care  of  ? 

How  awful  is  it  for  a  Perfon  to  promife  before  God^  Angels 
and  Men,  to  be  faithful  in  a  Work,  which  is  properly  fpiri- 
tual J  and  which  at  the  fame  Time  he,  being  unconverted^ 
hates,  becaufe  it  is  fpiritual,  from  the  Bottom  of  his  Heart  j. 
for  the  carnal  Hindis  Enmity  againfi  God  {w)  J,  -f . 

w  Rom.  viii.  7.  D  Is 

^   What  greater  Solccifm  than  a  A/an  of  God  without  true  GodUnefty  a  GyrijUnn 


r6  The  faithful  Mintfler 

Is  not  he  more  likely  to  make  the  Hearts  ©f  God's  People 
fad,  than  to  feed  Chrift's  Sheep  and  Lambs^  while  he  is  void 
of  any  true  Love  to  Chrift  {x)  ?  Is  not  he  more  likely  to 
diredt  poor  Souls  that  are  enquiring  the  Way  to  Glory  into 
fome  Soul-ruining  By-path,  e(pecially  the  Path  he  is  in  him- 
felf,  than  to  point  them  to  the  right  road,  which  he  is  expe- 
rimentally an  utter  Stranger  to  ? 

Oh  !  tliat  young  Men  would  be  cautious  upon  this  Head, 
left  they  incur  the  Guilt  of  Blood  to  an  amazing  Degree,  and 
pave  the  Way  to  a  moft  aggravated  Condemnation*. 

And  how  careful  fbould  theMiniftersof  theGofpel  be,  with 

Tcfpedl  to  the  Introdudion  of  others  into  the  facred  Work||  : 

X  John  xxi.  15,  16,  17.  Tho* 

Miniper^  that  is  not  a  trite  and  real  CJ^rifiian  ;  and  (ijch  none  can  be  withoiK  red 
Regeneration,  and  true  Santtificatton  wrought  in  him  hy  the  RemewiM^s  »f'  the 
Holy  Ghefi  ;  which  therefore  every  one  that  defires  to  enter  into  the  Holy  Of- 
fice of  the  Gofpel  Miniftry,  or  does  officiate  therein,  ought  mott  fcrioufly  to 
enquire  into  his  EKpcrience  of  ;  and  not  forget,  that  ic  i**  required  of  a  Miniftef 
of  Chrift,  that  he  be  Uamehfs,  foberf  juji,  holy,  temperate^  and  that  he  extrfift  him- 
felf  unto  Godlineft.  Holinefs  then  (even  that  Holinefs  tvitbout  Hvhkh  nt  iMn  (haH 
jee  the  Lord)  belongs  to  the  Scripture  Charader  of  a  Sceward  of  God  ;  and  this 
all  unfandificd,  unholy  Minifters  ought  to  think  of  with  Trembling.  In  a 
Word,  it  ap^ars  from  the  Work,  Dcfign,  Ends,  and  Ufe  of  the  Gofpel  Mini- 
cftry,  and  Scripture  Qualifications  required  of  him  who  officiates  therein,  that  he 
tnuft  be  a  Man  of  fincere  Piety,  and  true  Godlincfs. 

Pierfon'j  Sermon  et$  Mr.  Dickinfon's  Death. 

f  And  it  fcems  to  line  tliefe  would  aft  very  unadvifcdly,  that  fliould  enter  on 
that  preat  and  facred  Work  (of  the  Miniftry)  before  they  had  comfortable  Sa- 
tisfa6tion  concerning  themfelves,  that  they  have  had  a  faving  Work  of  God  oo 
their  Souls.  Edwards'j  thoughts  concerning  the  Revival  of  Religion. 

*  We  have  all  of  us  perfonal  Guik  enough  upon  us,  let  us  not  add  other 
Mens  Guilt  to  our  Account  :  To  be  guilty  of  the  Blood  of  .h':  -noaneft  Man  up- 
on Earth,  is  a  Sin,  v/hich  will  cry  in  yourCoi;fcience< ;  bar  to  be  guilty  of  the 
Blood  of  Souls.  Lord  !  who  can  bear  it  1      Fiavel'j  ^reatije  cf  tie  Soul  of  Aian. 

II  In  the  Light  of  this  Truth,  <vje  may  alfo  read  our  Dtity^  hivj  <u-e  ought  to  govern 
fiur/ehfis  in  the  Ordination  of  Jfen  to  the  niinifitrial  Office.  This  Oif*  e  is  to  be  com- 
mitted unto  faithful  and  able  Men,  2  Tiw.  ii.  2.  Not  to  N.  vices,  i  Tm  in.  6, 
I  know  the  Nectfffities  of  the  Church  are  great  ;  bur  110  rnore  bafte  (Ibefftcli 
you)  to  fipply  their  Wants  tl»an  good  Speed.  Satis  celerifer  fiei-i,  (^uictquid  coitt' 
tnade  geritur :  That's  foon  enough,  that's  well  enough.    'Tls  a  Icis  Haiard,  to 

put 


'Encouraged^  <^c.  a7 

Though  they  don't  know  the  Heart ;  yet  to  infift  upon  fuf- 
ficient  Grounds  of  Satisfa<ftion,  not  only  that  they  who  offer 
themfelves,  are  gifted^  learned^  orthodox^  and  the  like,  but 
alfo  that  they  "ixt  Javingly  acquainted  with  Chrift,  and  truly 
■cngag'd  to  promote  his  Glory,  and  the  Salvation  of  immor- 
tkl  Souls. 

Is  it  not  exprefly  requir'd,  that  the  Scripture-BIfhop,  or 
Minifter  of  the  Gofpel,  be  holy  (y)  f  Surely  then  fcriptu- 
ral  and  fatisfying  Evidences  of  Holinefs  and  divine  Grace, 
•fhould  be  waited  for  in  this  Cafe  -,  cfpecially  fince  Timothy  is 
plainly  direcfted,  and  we  thereby,  To  commit  thefe  Things  to 
faiihjul  Meriy  wbofiallhe  able  to  teach  others  alfo  (z). 

I  fhall  conclude  this  Head  with  the  mention  of  what  I  have 
jfeen  in  a  Letter  indited  by  the  excellent  Mr.  David  Br ainerd 
when  on  his  Death-Bed,  and  in  the  near  Views  of  Eternity^ 
he  there  /ignifies,  that  it  appeared  exceeding  clear  to  his 
'Mind,  as  well  as  lay  with  great  Weight  u^on  it,  that  there 
eught  to  be  great  Satisfa5fion  of  the  true  Piety  of  thofe  we 
•introduce  into  the  facred  Work  5  for,  fays  he,  **  If  godly 
^Minifters  are  left  to  be  Jax  upon  this  Head,  the  Number  of 
ungodly  ones  will  the  fafler  increafe,  and  thefe  will  more 
•readily  /train  a  Point,  as  to  the  Principles  and  Pra<^ices  of 
thofe  they  admit  into  the  Miniftry  3  and  thus  the  Land  may 
•gradually  be  over-run,  not  only  with  the  unconverted,  but 
even  with  heterodox,  loofe  and  vicious  Minifters  j  which 
dreadful  Evil  may  the  Lord,  of  his  infinite  Mercy  in  Jefos 
Chrifl,  make  us  v/ife  and  faithful,  through  his  Grace,  fea- 
fonably  to  prevent.'* 

D  2  2.  We 

y  Tit.  i.  8.  z  2  Tim.  ii.  2, 

Kt  an  ignorant  Rulitc  into  nn  Aporhrcary's  Shop,  to  crmpowrd  and  prepare 
fd'-'ats  *o  -  McuN  Bofl!e  ,  rhtu  to  rru^t  a  Ma    <1  ftirurc   both    <if  Fai  htulctfs 
ana  Prudr.tKC  with  the  D  f  ■-•;  fid  m  o^  Cbnft's  O-  &  anccs  to  Mc'-.s  Soils. 

Fiarcl*/  Sttm.  jo  the  Q:a.  .ider  «f  »n  EvargelUal  Pafiw, 


%8  The/iiiihfri/  Mini  ft er 

2.  We  learn  that  Miniilers  oi  Jefus  &-;/f  ihould  be  fre^ 
■^uently  and  intenfely  fix'd  in  Meditation  on  tliefe  and  liich 
like  Motives,    which  are  truly  weighty,    and  fcited  to  pro- 

-jnote  Paithfulnefs  in  their  \¥ork ;  and  v/ithal  be  often  wreji- 
Jip?g  with  Jehovah  in  the  Narne  of  Chrift  for  a  deep  and  ftea- 
dy  Senfe  of  tliem,  that  we  may  thus  delight  in  the  facred 
V/ork,  even  when  Succefs  is  denied,  and  look  upon  it  ftill 
a  great  Favour  and  Honor  to  be  allow'd  and  enabled  to 
ipeak  and  adl:  for  God  in  Chrifl:  as  his  Ambafladors  ; 
and  that  we  may,  if  Succefs  be.granted,  receive  it  as  an  ad- 
^Jtional  Comfort,  and  give  God  the  Glory,  to  whom  only  it 
belongs.  'Therefore  feeing  we  have  this  Mmifiryy  as  we  have 
received  Mercy,  we  faint  not, 

3 .  Hence  the  great  Propriety  and  ufeful  Tendency  of  the  Mi- 
^lifcersof  theeverlaftingGofpel,  elpecially  mthtiYPrefiyteritil 
a nd.«S)7WzV<7/ Conventions,  their  putting  each  other,  in  theilr 
Turns,  in  Mind  of  thofe  great  Trutlis,  which  tend  to  eftablifh, 

:  comfort  and  animate  them  in  the  great  and  difficult  Work,  and 
through  the  divine  Bleffing  will  have  that  Effect,  and  keep 
them  from  fainting  ;  efpecially  fince  Chrift  is  the  great  and 
cnly  Head  and  King  of  his  Church,  and  we  all  his  Miniflers 
are  Fellow4aboiirers  (a)  :  It  cannot  then  be  juftly  deem'd  ar- 
roeant,  when  the  meaneft  and  unworthiefl  of  the  Miniflers 
jof  the  Gofpel,  ufe  a  plain  and  pathetic  Freedom,  as  at  this 
Time,  with  others  convened,  how  much  foever  fuperior 
in  Age  or  Learning,  Gifts  or  Grace  y  yet  with  becoming 
JleJpeB. 

This  naturally  leads  me  to  a  Word  of 

EXHORTATION. 

And  here  I  would 

I.  With  all  Humility   addrefs  myfelf  to  my    Reverend 

leathers  and  dear  Brethren  in  the  Gofpel-Miniilry  conven'd, 

juEph^Lzzy,    P/^/Vif/w.  24th  Verfe.  whom 


..\  -.'i 


Enccruraged^  ^x.  't'9 

whom  I  reverence,  efteem  and  love,  and  whom  in  general 
I'm  perfuaded  (and  rejoice  from  my  inmcfi  Scul  en  the  Ac- 
count) that  the  God  of  the  Spirits  of  all  I'h'fij  has  made  up- 
right before  him,  and,  in  a  good  Meafure,  faithful  to  him, 
and  the  Souls  of  Men,  in  th^'great  and  difficult  and  yet  ho- 
nourable Work  he  has  Calfd  them  to. 

I  juft  mention  this,  which  I  can  fpeakwth^rf^?^  ^/Wm/j, 
and  affctlionate  and  dutiful^  hut  jiijl  Regard,  -to  prevent  any 
Mifconitrudiion  of  the  Freedom  of  Speech  I  ufe  in  this  Dil- 
courfe.  .  'i..  J 

Permit  me,  Reverend  SirSy  on  this  Occaiibn  to  congratCi- 
late  you,  that  you  are  dallM,  not  only  to  know,  bui'  alio  to 
preach  the  unjearchable  Riches  of  Chrlji.  Well  may  we  fay, 
fVhat  are  -zcr,  O  Lord,  or  'what  is  our  Father  s  Hcufe  ?  that 
thou  kajl  brought  us  hitherto  ;  and  that  to  us  this  Grace  Jl,ould 
he  give7i  j  to  us  !  who  ^?r^  kfs  than  the  leafi  of  all  Mercies- -y 
yea,  to  us  !  who  are  lefs  than  the  leaf  of  all  Saints.  Oh  ! 
then,  have  we  this  Mini  fry  ^  'tis  only  becaufe  and  as  we 
have  received  Mercy.  Have  we  furthermore  fpecial  Supports 
and  Confolations,  Alliftances  and  Succefles  at  Times  ?  Still 
it  is  as  we  have  received  Mercy^  and  only  ifi  -y^  let  God  then 
have  all  the  Glory.  ''         '    -^  •    "'' 

het  us  give  Thanks'  with  our  whole  Souls,  at  the  Remem- 
brance of  the  Divine  Holinefsy  Power  and  Grace,  difplay'd  at 
one  Time  and  another,  efpecially  about  twelve  or  fifteen 
Years  ago,  in  a  very  glorious  and  wonderful  Work  of  Convic- 
tion and  Converfion  of  Sinners,  as  well  as  Edification  of  God's 
People  jl  which  notwithftanding  feveral  unhappy  and  fad 
Extravagances y  or  ExtrcamSy  which  attended  the  fame,  wfe 
(as  a  dear  Brother  in  the  Miniftry  exprdfes  it)  -^Ml  dare  tfe 
.call  a  Work  of  God. 

Alas  ! 


36  Thefalthfiil  Minifhr 

Alas  1  my  Brethren^  that  we  and  others  have  to  much 
abus'd  and  milimprov'd  this  unfpeakable  Mercy,  and 
provok'd  the  Lord  in  fuch  a  Meafure  to  depart  from 
us ! 

And  how  are  we  call'd  to  lament,  that  Iniquity  awfully  /z* 
bounds  in  our  Land  and  Nation  j  Infidelity,  and  many  talfe 
and  corrupt  Principles,  multiplied  ;  and  grofs  Immoralities, 
Profanenels,  and  Vices  of  all  Sorts,  World lymindednefs 
and  Lukewarmnefs  in  religion,  Diviiions  in  Church  and 
State,  fpiritual  Sloth  and  Barrennefs,  Blindnefs  and  Hard- 
nefs.  Ingratitude  and  Stupidity,  under  awful  Threatnings 
and  Judgments,  Prefumption  and  Security,  Pride,  Sell- 
righteoufnefs.  Unbelief,  and  Oppofition  to  the  late  glorious 
Work  of  God  ;  and,  in  a  Word,  awful  Difregard,  and  even 
Contempt  of  God  and  his  Laws,  of  Chrifl  and  his  Gofpel, 
and  Perlbn,  and  Grace  j  of  their  own  Souls  and  their  Fa- 
milies and  others  beft  and  eternal  Interefts:  And  how  are  we 
farther  called  to  lament  that  the  Lcve  of  many  waxes  cold  f 
What  a  general  Coldnefs  and  Deadnefs,  as  to  religion,  has 
for  fome  Years  prevail'd  5  nor  can  we  deny,  that  the  Mini- 
ftry  has  been  infedted  herewith ;  though,  blelTed  be  God, 
we  have  fome  Revivings  in  cur  Bondage^  both  as  to  divine 
Comfdrts  and  Succefs,  2iXiAJhould  not  dejj>ife  the  Day  of  fmall 
Tbhtgs  (b). 

Urtder  the  Judgment i  we  feel  or  fear,  let  us  be  humblet^ 
fcut  not  difcouraged. 

Corbe,  my  beloved  Brethren^  let  us  arife,  through 
;Grace,  and  (hake  ourfelves  5  let  us,  for  God's  Sake,  for 
.Ckrifi's  Sake,'  and  for  precious  Soul's  Sake,  arife,  and 
ib^e  oSJjcernains  of  Sloth  and  Backwardncfs  on  the  one 

Hand> 

t  Zed/iY,  10. 


Encouraged y    ^c.  gi 

Hand,  and  finking  Difcouragements  on  the  other  :  Let  us, 
in  the  Lord's  Strength,  quit  ourfehes  like  Men^  yea,  like 
Me7i  of  God^  in  this  dark,  degenerate  and  difficult  Day. 
Oh !  what  Honor  would  tliis  reflect  on  God  and  religion  ! 

Let  us  walk  with  God,  as  Enoch  did  (cj  :  Let  us  be  va- 
liant, and  yet  difcreet,  adive  and  diligent  'yjiedfajl^afidun- 
movable,  fervent  in  Spirit,  and  full  of  the  Holy  Ghoft  ;  always 
abounding  in  the  JVork  of  the  Lord-,  knowing  that  our  Labcur 
is  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord  (d).  If  we  are  faithful,  and 
Souls  be  not  gathered,  yet  we  fhall  be  glorious  in  the  Eyes  of 
the  Lord  ; — if  they  be,  then  we  {hall  fay  e  er  long.  Lord, 
here  we  are,  and  the  Children  thou  ha/i  gracioufly  given  us  ; 
and  (hall  rejoice  with  them  in  Glory  for  ever. 

Oh  !  my  Fathers,  my  Brethren,  the  Eyes  of  Chrift,  who 
will  judge  the  ^ick  and  the  Dead  at  his  Appearing,  and  his 
Kingdom,  his  Eyes,  I  fay,  which  are  as  a  Flame  of  Fire  {e)  are 
upon  us  continually  in  all  Parts  of  our  Work  and  Condud, 
with  reference  to  the  final  Judgment,  and  that  ftrid  Account 
we  muft  give  at  his  Bar  :  And  if  any  of  us  fliould  then  meet 
with  the  Doom  of  the  Slothful  Servant,    how  dreadful  I 

how  intolerable  1 The  very    Thought  is  big  with 

Horror  I  and  Words  fail  I— — 

But  on  the  other  Hand,  how  glorious,  inconceivably 
glorious,  is  the  Reward  we  rtiall  have,  if  we  are  faithful, 
through  Grace  :  Oh  !  how  (hall  we  exult  with  extatic  Joy, 
when  our  Lord  fays  to  us,  Well  do?ie  good  and  faithful  Ser- 
vants, enter  into  the  Joy,  the  eternal  Joy,  of  your  Lord. 

With  this  Profpe<fl,  (hall  we  not  moft  willingly^fw^  and 
he  fpent  in  our  Work  for  Chrift,  and  for  Souls  ?  efpecially 
^onfiderino:  what  Chrift  lefus  our  Lord  has  done  and  fufter- 

ed 

c  Gen.  V.  22.      d  1  Cor,  xv.  58.    e  Rev,  i.  14. 


5v  TIjC  faithful  Mini/Ier 

edforus ;  and  how  he  has  groaned  and  fweat,  bled  and  died 
for  us  on  the  Crofs,  that  we  might  live  and  reign  with  him  in 
Glory. ;  .  ^ 

Let  us  further  realize  the  hifinite  Glory\  Furity  and  Ex- 
cellency of  Cbrijl,  behold  him  altogether'  lovely^  and  think  no- 
thing too  much  to  do  or  fufFer  for  him,  but  all  vaftly  too 
little.  Had  wc  a  Thoufand  Lives,  and  he  cali'd  for  them, 
fhould  we  not,  with  the  greatefl  Freedom  and  Alacrity, 
lay  them  all  down,  as  one  fpeaks  fail,  as  the  fuccefTive  Mi- 
nutes roil. But  I  mufthaften. Chriji's^ Dying  Love 

to  his  Church,  as  well  as  to  us,  fliould  engage  us  in  our 
great  and  difficult,  yet  honorable,  profitable  and  pleafant 
Work. 

Again,  the  People  of  God  are  helping  us  by  their  Prayers, 
and  holding  up  our  Arms,  while  we  are  doing  the  Lord's 
Work,  and  fighting  the  Lord's  Battles  ;  and  though  evil 
Men  watch  for  cur  halting,  this  fliould  but  make  us  watch  and 
pray  the  more,  and  work  the  harder,  and  ftand  more  fure, 
net  in  our  own,  but  the  Lord's  Strength. 
,  Furthermore,  Faithfiihefs  in  our  Work,  will  exprefs 
Gratitude  to  the  bleffed  Jefus,  for  calling  us  to  the  Know- 
ledge of  hinifelf,  and  for  putting  us  into  the  Miniftry,  both 
which  are  '■oery  great  Mercies  :  Therefore  feeing  we  have  this 
Miniftry,  as  we  have  received  Mercy,  let  us  not  faint  j  eipeci- 
ally  iince  our  Time  is  fliort  and  Death  comes  haftening  on||." 

Alas  ! 

Il  fiiall  I  fqiianrler  av/ay  v  hat  is  umtterally  irnporiani^  ^  hile  it  laft*,  and  when 
once  departed,  \s  .ilicpf tier  ine'voc able  "i  O/  my  Soul,  forbear  the  FoHy  :  For- 
bear the  riefperare  Extravagance.  Wilt  ihou  chide  as  a  Lchenr,  the  Arrov«f 
that  houndetb  fiom  tlie  String:  orfweepaway  Diamords^  as  tlic  jRf/;//e  of  the 
Houfc  ?  — Throw  Titre  away  lAftonifhing,  ruinous,  irreparable  Profurencfs/ 
Throw  Empires  away  and  be  blaraelefs.  But  O  /  be  parfimonious  of  thy  Days : 
llusb:=<nd  xhy  precious  Hours.  Bervey's  Contemplations. 


Encmraged^   ^c.  53 

Alas  !  that  fb  much  of  our  Time  is  run  to  Wafte,  and  we 
have  done  no  more  for  God  :  Oh  !  then,  let  us  feize  the 
flying  Moments:,  and  employ  them  all  for  God,  and  Chriil, 
and  Souls. 

Some  of  our  Number  within  a  few  Years  paft  are  called 
home  from  their  Work  to  their  Reward,  from  light  and 
momentary  Trials,  x.o  2i  far  tnore  exceeding,  and  eternal  JVeight 
of  Glory. 

Oh  !  that  a  double  Portion  of  the  Spirit  may  fall  on  us  who 
furvive,  that  we  may  redeem  our  Time  in  the  befl  Manner, 
and  double  our  Diligence  \ 
.  Many  Opportunities  we  have  to  exprefs  our  Love  to  Chrifl 
and  Souls  in  this  Life,  that  we  /hall  never  have  afterwards  : 
Oh  !  that  we  may  improve  them  all,  through  Grace,  to  the 
beft  Purpofe  ! 

Hold  out  Faitb  and  Patience,  hold  out  Zeal,  ASftvity  and 
Courage,  a  little  longer,  and  we  fliall,  Reverend  and  dear 
Z';rs,  be  with  our  triumphant  Brethren  above,  and  perfedtly 
enjoy,  glorify  and  praife  our  God  and  Saviour  for  ever  and 
ever. 

^.  I  would  fpeak  a  Word  to  thofe  of  the  Children  of 
God  who  are  not  in  the  Miniftry.  Brethren  I  Pray  for  usf 
(f).  Many  Difficulties  we  meet  with  in  our  Work  5  Oh  \ 
pray,  that  we  may  not  faint  or  flag  ;  but  may  find  the 
Grace  of  our  God  abundantly  fufficient,  that  we  may  be 
fuccefsful,  if  it  be  the  Lord's  Will  ;  but,  efpecially,  that 
we  may  be  faithful  to  the  Death y  and  then  receive  a  Crown  of 
Life. 

I  may  fay  to  you  as  I  have  heard  it  was  faid  by  tho/e  wha 

were  going  to  take  Cafe-Breton,  when  they  parted  with  their 

Friends  upon  the  Shore,  "Doyou/>r^/for*MS,andwe  vti^fght 

"  for  you  :"    Yea,    I  may  fay  farther.  Do  yoM  pray  for  us, 

f  I  Thef  v.  25.  E  and 


3+  Tloe  faithful  Minifter 

and  we  will  nsoark  for  you,  TlvA  pray  for  you  too,  through 
Grace,  that  you  may  grow  in  Grace ^  and  in  tloe  Knowledge  of 
mr  Lord  and  Saviour  yefus  Chriji^  that  you  may  live  by 
Faith  on  him,  continually  bring  forth  much  Fruity  adorn 
your  Profeffion,  and  ripen  apace  for  Glory  ;  and  Oh  1  Give 
the  Lord  no  Reji,  till  he  make  ferufalem  a  Praife  and  yoy  in 
the  Earth.  And,  dear  Brethren,  pray  often,  and  pray  ear- 
jieftly,  iov poor,  Chrijllefs,  perijlnng  Souls. 

I  would  now, 

3 .  Conclude  with  an  Addrefs  to  fuch. 

No  fmall  Part  of  our  Work,  my  dear  Hearers,  who  are 
yet  in  the  difiiial  State  of  XJnregeneracy  relates  to  you  ;  and 
many  Difficulties,  Services  and  Fatigues  we  are  willing  to 
.^o  through  without  fainting,  out  of  Love  to,  and  Concern 
for  your  precious  Souls,  if  by  any  Means  we  may  win 
you  over  to  the  Knowledge  and  Love  of  God  and  Chrill, 
and,  at  leaft,  favefome,  ■         , 

Oh  1  confent  to  be  happy,  and  to  live  for  ever,  and  don't 
liill  yourfelves  ;  don't  throw  yourfelves  Body  and  Soul  into 
Hell  :  This  you  will  ^o,  if  you  continue  in  Sin  and  Unbe- 
lief .      .    ^ 

We  come  in  God's  Name  to  you,  and  pray  you  in  Chriji*s 
Stead  to  be  reconciled  to  God  : — We-  preach  the  Terrors  of  the 
Law,  as  Means  fuited  to  awaken  and  convince  you  of  your 
finful,  awful  State,  2in^  MohiiQ  Need  o^  2i  Saviour -,  and  we 
fet  before  you  the  Invitations  of  theGofpel,  and  the  Grace, 
Beauties  and  Glories  of  Immanuel  ;  with  Delires,  that  you 
may,  by  the  Almighty  Power  and  Grace  of  God,  be  made 
=  willing  to  receive  Chrift  Jefus,  juft  as  he  is  offered  in  the 
•  Gofpel,  and  reft  upon  him  alone  for  Salvation  :  Then,  my 
Brethren^  you  will  be  inconceivably  happy  and  bleffed  for 

i^yer. 

But 


Encouraged ^    <^c.  35 

• 

But  Oh  !  if  you  continue  to  negled;  and  refufe  'Chrifl, 
you  muil  perifh.  The  faithful  a?idtrue  Witnejs  has  declared 
plainly  with  his  own  Mouth,  He  that  belicveth  not^  fl:all  be 
dafuned  (g).  If  you  will  go  to  Hell,  after  all,  from  under  the 
glorious  Advantages  of  the  Gofpel,  how  aggravated  muft 
your  Damnation  be  (h)  ^  Oil  !  can  you  bear  to  lie  under 
the  dreadful  Wrath  o^  the  great  and  terrible  God  in  th« 
Flames  of  Hell,  without  one  Drop  of  Water  to  cool  your 
fccrched  Tongues  ;  where  the  Worm  of  Confcience  ne^^er  dies^ 
ami  the  Fire  is  not  quenched  ;  and  where  you  mufl  lie  roar- 
ing, waili?jg  afid  gnafjifig your  Teeth^  for  ever  and  ever. 

Oh  !  then  red  not  in  your  prefent  Condition  j  and,  ths' 
you  mufl  take  all  pofjibk  Fains  in  religion,  read^  hear,  p^^y^ 
pieditatCy  and,  in  a  Word,  ftrive  with  all  Earneftncfs,  yet 
don't  reft  upon  that,  or  think  that  God  is  ol)liged  hereupon 
to  fave  you  j  but  acknowledge  he  might  vc\o{^juJlIy  after  all 
this,  caft  you  into  Hell  : — Come  therefore  as  dipcor,  guilty, 
empty,  'vile,  finfid,  perijhing,  ill-deferving^  andFlell-defer^ing 
Creature  to  2. full,  glorious  and  all-fufficient  Chrift,  who  is  moft 
ready  and  willing  to  fave.  If  any  Man  thirjl,  let  him  come  to 
Ch.v\{i  and dri7tk.  Oh  \  come,  poor  Souls,  here  2ire  many  of  u% 
Ambajjddors  of  Jefus  Chrift  together  ;  I  truft  we  join  moft 
cordially  and  affeSlionately  in  warning  you  to  flee  from  the  Wrath 
to  come,  and  in  calling  and  inviting  you  to  Chrift.  Oh  !  come 
before  the  Majler  of  the  Houfe  is  rifen  up,  and  has  fut  to  the 
Door  (/)  for  then  it  will  be  too  late  for  ever.  Oh !  dont  delay, 
Thoufands  have  been  ruind  that  way.  Flear  the  Lord's  ^o/Vf, 
thro'  his  Grace,  To-day  :  Oh  !  let  there  be  foy  in  Heaven  o- 
ver  you  this  Day,  and  then  I  truft  we  ftiall  meet  e'er  long  in 
pure,  perfed  and  eternal  Glory  :  Which  may  the  Lord  grant, 
tliro'  Jefus  Chrift  !    Amen  and  Amen. 

g  Markxvi.  16.  h  Mat.  xi.  21, 22, 23, 24.  /  Luke  xiiL  25. 

FINIS. 


J 


/ 


.-■-.•/••.■*:  itLit'i.l 


